bow

1. to bend the knee or body or incline the head, as in reverence, submission, salutation, recognition, or acknowledgment.
2. to yield; submit:

   to bow to the inevitable.

   Synonyms: capitulate, comply, acquiesce, defer, accede, surrender

3. to bend or curve downward; stoop:

   the pines bowed low.

1. to bend or incline (the knee, body, or head) in worship, submission, respect, civility, agreement, etc.:

   He bowed his head to the crowd.

2. to cause to submit; subdue; crush.
3. to cause to stoop or incline:

   Age had bowed his head.

4. to express by a bow:

   to bow one's thanks.

5. to usher (someone) with a bow (usually followed by in, out, etc.):

   They were bowed in by the footman.

6. to cause to bend; make curved or crooked.

1. an inclination of the head or body in salutation, assent, thanks, reverence, respect, submission, etc.

verb phrase

1. to resign a position or withdraw from a job, competition, obligation, etc.:

   He bowed out after two terms as governor.

1. a flexible strip of wood or other material, bent by a string stretched between its ends, for shooting arrows:

   He drew the bow and sent the arrow to its target.

2. an instrument resembling this, used for various purposes, as rotating a drill or spindle, or loosening entangled or matted fibers.
3. a bend or curve.
4. Also called bowknot. a looped knot composed of two or more loops and two ends, as for tying together the ends of a ribbon or string.
5. any separate piece of looped, knotted, or shaped gathering of ribbon, cloth, paper, etc., used as a decoration, as on a package, dress, or the like.
6. a long rod, originally curved but now nearly straight, with horsehairs stretched from one end to the other, used for playing on a musical instrument of the violin and viol families.
7. a single movement of such a device over the strings of a violin, viol, or the like.
8. bow tie ( def 1 ).
9. something curved or arc-shaped.
10. a saddlebow.
11. an archer; bowman:

    He is the best bow in the county.

12. temple ²( def 3 ).
13. a U -shaped piece for placing under an animal's neck to hold a yoke.
14. Building Trades. a flexible rod used for laying out large curves.
15. the part of a key grasped by the fingers.
16. the loop on the stem of a watch by which the watch is attached to a chain or the like.
17. a rainbow.

1. curved outward at the center; bent:

   bow legs.

1. to bend into the form of a bow; curve.
2. Music. to perform by means of a bow upon a stringed instrument.
3. Textiles Obsolete. to loosen by passing a vibrating bow among entangled fibers.

1. Nautical, Aeronautics.
   1. the forward end of a vessel or airship.
   2. either side of this forward end, especially with reference to the direction of a distant object:

      a mooring two points off the port bow.

2. bows, Nautical. the exterior of the forward end of a vessel, especially one in which the hull slopes back on both sides of the stem.
3. the foremost oar in rowing a boat.
4. Also called bowman, bow oar. the person who pulls the foremost oar.

1. of or relating to the bow of a ship.

1. Clara, 1905–65, U.S. film actress: known as the “It Girl.”