bend Hear it!

bend¹ Definition

bend (bend)

transitive verb bent, bend′·ing

  1. Obsolete to cause tension in (a bow, etc.), as by drawing with a string
  2. to force (an object) into a curved or crooked form, or (back) to its original form, by turning, pulling, pressing, etc.
  3. to turn from a straight line light rays are bent by refraction
  4. to make submit or give in to bend another's will to one's wishes
  5. to turn or direct (one's eyes, attention, energy, etc. to)
  6. to cause to have a fixed purpose; determine: used in the passive voice he was bent on success
  7. to incline or tend (to or toward)
  8. Naut. to attach; fasten to bend a signal flag onto a halyard

Etymology: ME benden < OE bendan, to confine with a string (< Gmc *bandjan < *bindan > bind); hence, to fetter, bend (a bow)

intransitive verb

  1. to turn or be turned from a straight line or from some direction or position
  2. to yield by curving or crooking, as from pressure
  3. to crook or curve the body from a standing position; stoop (over or down)
  4. to give in; yield he bent to her wishes
  5. Archaic to direct one's attention, energy, etc. (to something)

noun

  1. a bending or being bent
  2. a bent or curving part, as of a river
  3. Naut. a wale: usually used in pl.

bend¹ Related Forms

bend′·able adjective

bend¹ Idioms

round the bend

Brit., Informal crazy, mad, insane, etc.

bend² Definition

bend (bend)

noun

  1. any of various knots used to tie one rope to another or to something else
  2. Tanning one half of a trimmed hide

Etymology: ME < bend

bend³ Definition

bend (bend)

noun

Heraldry a diagonal stripe or band on a shield from the upper left to the lower right corner (as seen by the viewer)

Etymology: OFr bende: see band

bend Synonyms

bend

n.

crook, bow, arch; see curve 1.

bend Synonyms

bend

v.

  1. To force out of a straight line

    twist, turn, curve, warp, arch, round, crimp, flex, pervert, spiral, camber, coil, crinkle, curl, buckle, crook, bow, wind, incline, contort, deflect, deform, double, loop, twine, refract, angle, hook.

    Antonyms straighten*, stiffen*, support*. *

  2. To be forced out of a straight line

    stoop, lean, buckle, bow, turn, zigzag, crumple, meander, circle, swerve, diverge, deviate, detour, veer, droop, angle off, angle away, wilt, sag, hunch, give; see also sense 1, bow 1, deviate, turn 6, veer.

    Antonyms stand up, extend*, straighten. *

  3. To influence

    direct, persuade, mold; see change 1, influence.

  4. To yield

    submit, accede, give in; see yield 1.

bend refers to the curving or crooking of something that is normally straight but that yields to pressure or tension to bend a wire; twist, in this connection, implies greater resistance in the object to be bent and often connotes a wrenching out of the normal line to twist one's arm; turn, in this comparison, suggests a change in direction, as a curving back of an object upon itself to turn the sheet back; curve suggests a swerving or deflection in a line that follows or approximates the arc of a circle he curved the next pitch

bend Usage Examples

Object

  • knee: Next ask the patient to bend each knee up in turn.
  • spoon: I can make them bend the ball like I bend a spoon.
  • stiffness: Figure 2 shows the dependence of bending stiffness on test angle q.
  • radius: The bend radius is set at 24 turns for the cylindrical mirror.
  • elbow: Bend the elbow at a 90 degree angle pointing behind you with the upper arm not quite parallel to the floor.
  • inwards: The glass was actually bending inwards with the force of the wind.

Converse of object

negotiate: The Czech Republic ace lifted nastily while negotiating the first bend and was thrown awkwardly into the air fence.

Preposition: at

  • waist: Other exercises involved bending slowly forward at the waist.
  • knee: Now bend at the knees until your thighs are parallel with the floor.
  • elbow: Avoid rushing as you lower your chest to the floor by bending at the elbows, then straighten your arms and repeat until tired.

Adjective modifier

  • sweeping: The roads were great, smooth, dry and with wide sweeping bends and lovely picturesque villages with breathtaking views.
  • sharp: I'll not cross the road on sharp bends or near the top of hills.
  • right-angled: The pitch is followed by a further 3m descent to a rift-like passage forming two right-angled bends.
  • right-hand: As you enter the woods look out for the gate, just after the first tight right-hand bend, it's usually closed.
  • left-hand: Riders losing control through left-hand bends accounted for four of these incidents, two of these resulted in death.
  • tight: Combe is renowned for its challenging corners and tight bends.

Followed by an intransitive particle

over: Wesley, bending over with hands on his thighs, gasped, " Giles, quickly.

Preposition: of

lap: The latter passing Dean Barker on the third bend of the third lap in a typically stylish manner.

Noun used with modifier

  • hairpin: The car lurches around hairpin bends, its wheels inches from the edge.
  • hair-pin: The chase is fast and furious, skidding down stretches of icy road and hair-pin bends.