bow 1
— bowedness , n. — bowingly , adv.
/bow/ , v.i.
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.
3. to bend or curve downward; stoop: the pines bowed low.
v.t.
4. to bend or incline (the knee, body, or head) in worship, submission, respect, civility, agreement, etc.: He bowed his head to the crowd.
5. to cause to submit; subdue; crush.
6. to cause to stoop or incline: Age had bowed his head.
7. to express by a bow: to bow one's thanks.
8. to usher (someone) with a bow (usually fol. by in, out, etc.): They were bowed in by the footman.
9. to cause to bend; make curved or crooked.
10. bow and scrape , to be excessively polite or deferential.
11. bow out , to resign a position or withdraw from a job, competition, obligation, etc.: He bowed out after two terms as governor.
n.
12. an inclination of the head or body in salutation, assent, thanks, reverence, respect, submission, etc.
13. make one's bow , to appear publicly for the first time, as a performer, politician, etc.: The young pianist made her bow last night to an appreciative audience.
14. take a bow , to step forward or stand up in order to receive recognition, applause, etc.: The conductor had the soloists take a bow.
[ bef. 900; ME bowen (v.), OE bugan; c. D buigen; akin to G biegen, Goth biugan, ON buga, etc. ]
Syn. 1. See bend 1 . 2. surrender, accede, defer, acquiesce, comply, capitulate.
bow 2
— bowedness , n. — bowless , adj. — bowlike , adj.
/boh/ , n.
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. See bow tie .
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.
adj.
18. curved outward at the center; bent: bow legs.
v.t. , v.i.
19. to bend into the form of a bow; curve.
20. Music. to perform by means of a bow upon a stringed instrument.
21. Textiles Obs. to loosen by passing a vibrating bow among entangled fibers.
[ bef. 1000; ME bowe (n.), OE boga; c. D boog, G Bogen, ON bogi; akin to BOW 1 ]
bow 3
/bow/ , n.
1. Naut. , Aeron.
a. the forward end of a vessel or airship.
b. either side of this forward end, esp. with reference to the direction of a distant object: a mooring two points off the port bow.
2. bows , Naut. the exterior of the forward end of a vessel, esp. 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 that oar.
5. bows on , (of a ship) with the bow foremost: The vessel approached us bows on.
6. bows under , (of a ship) shipping water at the bow: The ship was bows under during most of the storm.
7. on the bow , Naut. within 45° to the heading of the vessel.
adj.
8. of or pertaining to the bow of a ship.
[ 1620-30; boog (n.) or D boeg or Dan bov; see BOUGH ]