English Dictionary

Definition of “bend

1bend1 (bɛndPronunciation for bend1

Definitions

verb

Word forms: bends, bending, bent
  1. to form or cause to form a curve, as by pushing or pulling
  2. to turn or cause to turn from a particular direction  ⇒ the road bends left past the church 
  3. (intr; often foll by down, etc) to incline the body; stoop; bow
  4. to submit or cause to submit  ⇒ to bend before superior force 
  5. (tr) to turn or direct (one's eyes, steps, attention, etc)
  6. (tr) to concentrate (the mind); apply oneself closely
  7. (tr) nautical to attach or fasten, as a sail to a boom or a line to a cleat
  8. See bend over backwards
  9. See bend someone's ear
  10. See bend the rules

noun

  1. a curved part, as in a road or river
  2. nautical a knot or eye in a line for joining it to another or to an object
  3. the act or state of bending
  4. See round the bend

See also

bends

Alternative Forms

ˈbendable adjective

Word Origin

Old English bendan ; related to Old Norse benda , Middle High German benden; see bind, band³

2bend2 (bɛndPronunciation for bend2

Definitions

noun

  1. heraldry an ordinary consisting of a diagonal line traversing a shield

Word Origin

Old English bendband²; see bendOld English ²; see 1

Translations

  • British English: bend Pronunciation for bend A bend in a road, river, or pipe is a curved part in it.The crash occurred on a sharp bend.bɛnd NOUN The crash occurred on a sharp bend.
  • Spanish: curva Pronunciation for curva nf
  • French: virage Pronunciation for virage nm
  • German: Biegung Pronunciation for Biegung nf
  • Chinese: 弯曲Pronunciation for 弯曲 n
  • Arabic: اِلْتِوَاءPronunciation for اِلْتِوَاء n
  • Portuguese: curvaPronunciation for curva nf
  • Russian: изгибPronunciation for изгиб nm
  • Croatian: zavojPronunciation for zavoj nm
  • Czech: ohybPronunciation for ohyb nm
  • Danish: kurvePronunciation for kurve nutr
  • Dutch: bochtPronunciation for bocht n
  • Finnish: mutkaPronunciation for mutka n
  • Greek: καμπήPronunciation for καμπή nf
  • Italian: curvaPronunciation for curva nf
  • Japanese: 曲がりPronunciation for 曲がり n
  • Korean: 굽은 부분Pronunciation for 굽은 부분 n
  • Norwegian: bøyningPronunciation for bøyning nm
  • Polish: wygięciePronunciation for wygięcie nnt
  • Brazilian Portuguese: curvaPronunciation for curva nf
  • European Spanish: curva Pronunciation for curva nf
  • Swedish: böjPronunciation for böj nutr
  • Thai: ทางโค้งPronunciation for ทางโค้ง n
  • Turkish: virajPronunciation for viraj n
  • Vietnamese: chỗ congPronunciation for chỗ cong n

  • British English: bend Pronunciation for bend When you bend, you move the top part of your body downwards and forwards.I bent over and kissed her cheek.bɛnd VERB I bent over and kissed her cheek.
  • Spanish: doblar Pronunciation for doblar v
  • French: plier Pronunciation for plier v
  • German: beugen Pronunciation for beugen v
  • Chinese: 弯折Pronunciation for 弯折 v
  • Arabic: يَثْنِيPronunciation for يَثْنِي v
  • Portuguese: curvarPronunciation for curvar v
  • Russian: сгибать(ся)Pronunciation for сгибать(ся) v
  • Croatian: savitiPronunciation for saviti v
  • Czech: ohnoutPronunciation for ohnout v ohýbat
  • Danish: bøjePronunciation for bøje v
  • Dutch: buigenPronunciation for buigen v
  • Finnish: taipuaPronunciation for taipua v
  • Greek: κάμπτωPronunciation for κάμπτω v
  • Italian: piegarePronunciation for piegare v
  • Japanese: 曲げるPronunciation for 曲げる v
  • Korean: 굽히다Pronunciation for 굽히다 v
  • Norwegian: bøyePronunciation for bøye v
  • Polish: zgiąćPronunciation for zgiąć v zginać
  • Brazilian Portuguese: curvarPronunciation for curvar v
  • European Spanish: doblar Pronunciation for doblar v
  • Swedish: böjaPronunciation for böja v
  • Thai: โค้งPronunciation for โค้ง v
  • Turkish: kıvrılmakPronunciation for kıvrılmak v
  • Vietnamese: uốn congPronunciation for uốn cong v

Usage examples

  • He had turned and was moving to the bend where the lank-haired man had disappeared.
    Innes, Hammond, High Stand (1985)
  • It is the contraction and relaxation of this cardiac tissue that makes the arch bend and stretch to produce the bot's crawling motion.
    New Scientist (2004)
  • His house sits on a bend of a quiet street, behind a semicircular drive, distinct from every other home around.
    Globe and Mail (2003)
  • And a romantic attraction between Mike and Syd, driving her protective brother round the bend , doesn't exactly help either.
    Belfast Telegraph (2003)
  • Stiff Fingers When the fingers seem to bend forward only a fraction toward the palm, the person has a fear about something.
    Lilian Verner-Bonds, THORSONS WAY OF - PALMISTRY (2002)

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