transitive verb
1. : to check the course of (a boat) : cause (a boat) to lie to or come to a standstill
brought the ship to by dropping the anchor
brought the enemy craft to by firing across her bows
2.
a. : bend
bring to a sail
b. : to take (a cable) around a capstan
3. : to restore to consciousness
fainted dead away, but was brought to by sympathetic bystanders