bow

Bow means to bend one's head or body in respect or recognition or to yield to someone's authority.

(verb)

An example of bow is how two opponents greet each other before they begin a karate match.

The definition of a bow is anything curved or bent, especially a device used for shooting arrows.

(noun)

An example of bow is what an archer uses to shoot arrows.

Bow is defined as the very front part of a ship.

(noun)

An example of bow is where the "flying scene" takes place in the movie Titanic.

See bow in Webster's New World College Dictionary

intransitive verb

Dialectal to bend or stoop
to bend down one's head or bend one's body in respect, agreement, worship, recognition, etc.
to yield or submit, as to authority
to express assent, greeting, etc. by bowing

Origin: ME bouen < OE bugan, to bend < IE base *bheugh-, to bend > Ger biegen; the bow is 17th c.

transitive verb

Dialectal to bend
to bend (one's head) down in respect, prayer, shame, etc.
to indicate (agreement, thanks, etc.) by bowing
to weigh (down); overwhelm; crush: the president was bowed down by the burdens of office

noun

a bending down of the head or body, as in respect or greeting

noun

anything curved or bent: a rainbow, oxbow
a curve; bend
a device for shooting arrows, made of a flexible, curved strip of wood, metal, etc. with a tightly drawn cord connecting the two ends
an archer
1. a slender stick strung along its length with horsehairs, drawn across the strings of a violin, cello, etc. to play it
2. a stroke with such a bow
a bowknot or a decorative knot, as of ribbon, with two or more loops
either of the sidepieces of a pair of glasses extending over the ears; temple

Origin: ME boue < OE boga < PGmc *boga < base of bow

adjective

bow-shaped; curved; bent

transitive verb, intransitive verb

to bend or curve in the shape of a bow: the wall bowed outward from the pressure
Music to play (a violin, etc.) with a bow

noun

the front part of a ship, boat, or airship; prow
the rower nearest the bow
Naut. a direction at a 45° angle left or right from dead ahead: a whale sighted on the port bow

Origin: ME boue < LowG or Scand: LowG būg, Du boeg, Swed bog, shoulder, shoulders of a ship, bows; akin to bough

See bow in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
Nautical

Origin:

Origin: Middle English boue

Origin: , probably of Low German origin; see bheug- in Indo-European roots

verb bowed, bow·ing, bows

verb, intransitive

To bend or curve downward; stoop.
To incline the body or head or bend the knee in greeting, consent, courtesy, acknowledgment, submission, or veneration.
To yield in defeat or out of courtesy; submit. See Synonyms at yield.

verb, transitive

To bend (the head, knee, or body) to express greeting, consent, courtesy, acknowledgment, submission, or veneration.
To convey (greeting, for example) by bending the body.
To escort deferentially: bowed us into the restaurant.
To cause to acquiesce; submit.
To overburden: Grief bowed them down.

noun

An inclination of the head or body, as in greeting, consent, courtesy, acknowledgment, submission, or veneration.

Phrasal Verb: bow out To remove oneself; withdraw.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English bowen

Origin: , from Old English būgan; see bheug- in Indo-European roots

noun

A bent, curved, or arched object.
A weapon consisting of a curved, flexible strip of material, especially wood, strung taut from end to end and used to launch arrows.
a. An archer.
b. Archers considered as a group.
a. Music A rod having horsehair drawn tightly between its two raised ends, used in playing instruments of the violin and viol families.
b. A stroke made by this rod.
A knot usually having two loops and two ends; a bowknot.
a. A frame for the lenses of a pair of eyeglasses.
b. The part of such a frame passing over the ear.
A rainbow.
An oxbow.