Word Frequency
bow1 (baʊ
)
Definitions
verb
- to lower (one's head) or bend (one's knee or body) as a sign of respect, greeting, assent, or shame
- to bend or cause to bend; incline downwards
- intr; usually foll by to or before to comply or accept ⇒
bow to the inevitable
- tr; foll by in, out, to etc to usher (someone) into or out of a place with bows and deference ⇒
the manager bowed us to our car
- tr; usually foll by down to bring (a person, nation, etc) to a state of submission
-
See bow and scrape
noun
- a lowering or inclination of the head or body as a mark of respect, greeting, or assent
-
See take a bow
See also
bow outWord Origin
Old English būgan, related to Old Norse bjūgr bent, Old High German biogan to bend, Dutch buigenbow2 (bəʊ
)
Definitions
noun
- a weapon for shooting arrows, consisting of an arch of flexible wood, plastic, metal, etc bent by a string (bowstring) fastened at each end See also crossbow
-
- a long slightly curved stick across which are stretched strands of horsehair, used for playing the strings of a violin, viola, cello, or related instrument
- a stroke with such a stick
-
- a decorative interlacing of ribbon or other fabrics, usually having two loops and two loose ends
- the knot forming such an interlacing; bowknot
-
- something that is curved, bent, or arched
- (in combination) ⇒
rainbow
,oxbow
,saddlebow
- a person who uses a bow and arrow; archer
- (US)
- a frame of a pair of spectacles
- a sidepiece of the frame of a pair of spectacles that curls round behind the ear
- a metal ring forming the handle of a pair of scissors or of a large old-fashioned key
- (architecture) part of a building curved in the form of a bow See also bow window
verb
- to form or cause to form a curve or curves
- to make strokes of a bow across (violin strings)
Word Origin
Old English boga arch, bow; related to Old Norse bogi a bow, Old High German bogo, Old Irish bocc, and bow1bow3 (baʊ
)
Definitions
noun
- (mainly nautical)
- often plural the forward end or part of a vessel
- (as modifier) ⇒
the bow mooring line
- (rowing) short for bowman2
-
See on the port bow
Word Origin
C15: probably from Low German boog; related to Dutch boeg, Danish bov ship's bow, shoulder; see boughTranslations for 'bow'
- British English: bow A bow is a long, curved piece of wood with a string stretched between the two ends, that is used to send arrows through the air.Some of the riders had bows and arrows.bəʊ NOUNweapon
- Arabic: قَوس
- Brazilian Portuguese: arco de flecha
- Chinese: 弓
- Croatian: luk
- Czech: luk
- Danish: buevåben
- Dutch: boogwapen
- European Spanish: arcoarma
- Finnish: jousipyssy
- French: arc
- German: BogenPfeil
- Greek: τόξο
- Italian: arco
- Japanese: 弓
- Korean: 활
- Norwegian: buepil-og-bue
- Polish: łuk
- Portuguese: arco de flecha
- Romanian: arc arcuri
- Russian: лук
- Spanish: arco
- Swedish: bågekurva
- Thai: คันธนู
- Turkish: yay
- Ukrainian: лук
- Vietnamese: cung
- British English: bow When you bow, you bend your body towards someone as a polite way of saying hello or thanking them.They all bowed to the king.baʊ VERB
- Arabic: يَنْحَنِي ل
- Brazilian Portuguese: fazer uma vénia
- Chinese: 鞠躬
- Croatian: nakloniti se
- Czech: uklonit se uklánět se
- Danish: bukke
- Dutch: buigenknielen
- European Spanish: hacer una reverencia
- Finnish: kumartaa
- French: s’incliner
- German: verbeugen
- Greek: υποκλίνομαι
- Italian: inchinarsi
- Japanese: お辞儀をする
- Korean: 절하다
- Norwegian: bukke
- Polish: ukłonić się kłaniać się
- Portuguese: fazer uma vénia
- Romanian: a se înclina
- Russian: кланяться
- Spanish: hacer una reverencia
- Swedish: buga (sig)
- Thai: คำนับ
- Turkish: baş eğme
- Ukrainian: вклонятися вклонитися
- Vietnamese: cúi chào
- British English: bowbəʊ A bow is a knot that you use to tie laces and ribbons. NOUNknot
- Arabic: أُنْشُوطَة
- Brazilian Portuguese: laço
- Chinese: 蝴蝶结
- Croatian: mašna
- Czech: kličkana tkaničce
- Danish: sløjfe
- Dutch: strik
- European Spanish: lazo
- Finnish: rusetti
- French: nœud ruban d'emballage
- German: Haarschleife
- Greek: φιόγκος
- Italian: nodo
- Japanese: ちょう結び
- Korean: 매듭
- Norwegian: knute
- Polish: kokardka
- Portuguese: laço
- Romanian: fundă funde
- Russian: узел бантик
- Spanish: lazo
- Swedish: knut
- Thai: โบว์
- Turkish: papyon
- Ukrainian: бант
- Vietnamese: nơ
Example Sentences Including 'bow'
"Thank you, culture lovers," the 81-year-old Lee exclaims, swooping down to a gallant bow.Globe and Mail (2003)
Clearly she expected a fight, discounting whatever Lirael thought she was doing up at the bow.LIRAEL: DAUGHTER OF THE CLAYR (2001)
He has done well at Kingfisher over the years but now would be the moment to bow out.Glasgow Herald (2001)
In just minutes conditions can go from being near windless, from astern, to having more than 40 knots on the bow.FATAL STORM (2001)
Lirael sighed and put away the bow , but took care to draw her sword instead, in case the Dog was mistaken.LIRAEL: DAUGHTER OF THE CLAYR (2001)
The boy scrambled from his pallet, pulled on his boots and disappeared outside with a hasty bow.TREASON KEEP (2001)
The door swept open to reveal an immaculately presented Sir Morgan Kavanagh, carrying a large gift box, finished with a red bow.Country Life (2005)
The first problem was actually getting to grips with how to hold the bow.Glasgow Herald (2001)
The lawsuit is something more than the usual shot across the bow of a competitor.Globe and Mail (2003)
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