English Dictionary

Definition of “bend”

bend1 (bɛnd Pronunciation 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

Derived Forms

ˈbendable adjective

Word Origin

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

bend2 (bɛnd Pronunciation for bend2

Definitions

noun

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

Word Origin

Old English bendband²; see bend1

Translations for 'bend'

  • British English: bendPronunciation 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
  • Arabic: اِلْتِوَاءPronunciation for اِلْتِوَاء
  • Brazilian Portuguese: curvaPronunciation for curva
  • Chinese: 弯曲Pronunciation for 弯曲
  • Croatian: zavojPronunciation for zavoj
  • Czech: ohybPronunciation for ohyb
  • Danish: kurvePronunciation for kurve
  • Dutch: bochtPronunciation for bochtkromming
  • European Spanish: curvaPronunciation for curva
  • Finnish: mutkaPronunciation for mutka
  • French: viragePronunciation for virage
  • German: BiegungPronunciation for Biegung
  • Greek: καμπήPronunciation for καμπή
  • Italian: curvaPronunciation for curva
  • Japanese: 曲がりPronunciation for 曲がり
  • Korean: 굽은 부분Pronunciation for 굽은 부분
  • Norwegian: bøyningPronunciation for bøyning
  • Polish: skrętPronunciation for skręt
  • Portuguese: curvaPronunciation for curva
  • Romanian: cot coturi
  • Russian: изгибPronunciation for изгиб
  • Spanish: curvaPronunciation for curva
  • Swedish: böjPronunciation for böj
  • Thai: ทางโค้งPronunciation for ทางโค้ง
  • Turkish: virajPronunciation for viraj
  • Ukrainian: вигин
  • Vietnamese: chỗ congPronunciation for chỗ cong
  • British English: bendPronunciation 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
  • Arabic: يَثْنِيPronunciation for يَثْنِي
  • Brazilian Portuguese: curvarPronunciation for curvar
  • Chinese: 弯折Pronunciation for 弯折
  • Croatian: nagnuti sePronunciation for nagnuti se
  • Czech: ohnout (se)Pronunciation for ohnout (se) ohýbat (se)
  • Danish: bøjePronunciation for bøjebukke
  • Dutch: buigenPronunciation for buigenkromtrekken
  • European Spanish: inclinarsePronunciation for inclinarseflexionar
  • Finnish: taipuaPronunciation for taipua
  • French: plierPronunciation for plier
  • German: beugenPronunciation for beugen
  • Greek: κάμπτωPronunciation for κάμπτω
  • Italian: chinarsiPronunciation for chinarsireflexive verb
  • Japanese: 曲げるPronunciation for 曲げる
  • Korean: 굽히다Pronunciation for 굽히다
  • Norwegian: bøyePronunciation for bøye
  • Polish: zgiąćPronunciation for zgiąć zginać
  • Portuguese: curvarPronunciation for curvar
  • Romanian: a se apleca
  • Russian: сгибать(ся)Pronunciation for сгибать(ся)
  • Spanish: inclinarsePronunciation for inclinarseplegar
  • Swedish: böjaPronunciation for böja
  • Thai: โค้งPronunciation for โค้ง
  • Turkish: kıvrılmakPronunciation for kıvrılmak
  • Ukrainian: згинати(ся) зігнутися
  • Vietnamese: uốn congPronunciation for uốn cong

Example Sentences Including 'bend'

A meeting and a parting of ways Roy Keane failed to bend a little.
Irish Times (2002)
And if I went on pressing for access I'd probably drive him round the bend.
Moore, Margaret Forests of the Night
He gave one final glance down at the camp below, then continued on round the hairpin bend , moving fast.
Innes, Hammond High Stand
I spent an hour under the car trying to gently bend the wheel arches away from the tyres.
Glasgow Herald (2001)
In other cases, the bend may indicate a region of wind shear, where the strength or direction of the wind changes.
New Scientist (2004)
It didn't take long to discover he was willing to bend the rules.
Belfast Telegraph (2003)
Perry holed an 80-foot putt on No. 2, up a steep slope with a sharp bend to the right, for a birdie to win the hole.
Globe and Mail (2003)
Some of the old crows we get in here drive you round the bend.
Forbes, Bryan A Song at Twilight
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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