English Dictionary

Definition of “bow”

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1bow1 (baʊPronunciation for bow1) 

Definitions

verb

  1. to lower (one's head) or bend (one's knee or body) as a sign of respect, greeting, assent, or shame
  2. to bend or cause to bend; incline downwards
  3. (intr; usually foll by to or before) to comply or accept  ⇒ bow to the inevitable 
  4. (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 
  5. (tr; usually foll by down) to bring (a person, nation, etc) to a state of submission
  6. See bow and scrape

noun

  1. a lowering or inclination of the head or body as a mark of respect, greeting, or assent
  2. See take a bow

See also

bow out

Word Origin

Old English būgan , related to Old Norse bjūgr  bent, Old High German biogan  to bend, Dutch buigen

2bow2 (bəʊPronunciation for bow2) 

Definitions

noun

  1. 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
    1. 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
    2. a stroke with such a stick
    1. a decorative interlacing of ribbon or other fabrics, usually having two loops and two loose ends
    2. the knot forming such an interlacing; bowknot
    1. something that is curved, bent, or arched
    2. ((in combination)  ⇒ rainbow oxbow saddlebow 
  5. a person who uses a bow and arrow; archer
  6. US 
    1. a frame of a pair of spectacles
    2. a sidepiece of the frame of a pair of spectacles that curls round behind the ear
  7. a metal ring forming the handle of a pair of scissors or of a large old-fashioned key
  8. architecture part of a building curved in the form of a bow See also bow window

verb

  1. to form or cause to form a curve or curves
  2. 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 bowOld English arch, bow; related to Old Norse a bow, Old High German , Old Irish , and 1

3bow3 (baʊPronunciation for bow3) 

Definitions

noun

  1. mainly nautical 
    1. (often plural) the forward end or part of a vessel
    2. ((as modifier)  ⇒ the bow mooring line 
  2. rowing short for bowman2
  3. See on the port bow
  4. See on the starboard bow
  5. See a shot across someone's bows

Word Origin

C15: probably from Low German boog ; related to Dutch boeg , Danish bov ship's bow, shoulder; see bough

Bow (bəʊPronunciation for Bow) 

Definitions

noun

  1. Clara, known as the , known as the It Girl. 1905–65, US film actress, noted for her vivacity and sex appeal

Translations

  • British English: bow Pronunciation for 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 NOUN Some of the riders had bows and arrows.
  • Spanish: arco Pronunciation for arco nm
  • French: arc Pronunciation for arc nm
  • German: Bogen Pronunciation for Bogen nm
  • Chinese: 弓Pronunciation for 弓 n
  • Arabic: قَوسPronunciation for قَوس
  • Portuguese: arco de flechaPronunciation for arco de flecha nm
  • Russian: поклонPronunciation for поклон nm
  • Croatian: lukPronunciation for luk nm
  • Czech: lukPronunciation for luk nm
  • Danish: buePronunciation for bue nutr
  • Dutch: boogPronunciation for boog nm
  • Finnish: jousipyssyPronunciation for jousipyssy n
  • Greek: τόξοPronunciation for τόξο nnt
  • Italian: arcoPronunciation for arco nm
  • Japanese: 弓Pronunciation for 弓 n
  • Korean: 활Pronunciation for 활 n
  • Norwegian: buePronunciation for bue nm
  • Polish: łukPronunciation for łuk nm
  • Brazilian Portuguese: arco de flechaPronunciation for arco de flecha nm
  • European Spanish: arco Pronunciation for arco nm
  • Swedish: bågePronunciation for båge nutr
  • Thai: คันธนูPronunciation for คันธนู n
  • Turkish: yayPronunciation for yay n
  • Vietnamese: cái cungPronunciation for cái cung n
  • British English: bow Pronunciation for 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 They all bowed to the king.
  • Spanish: doblarse Pronunciation for doblarse v
  • French: s’inclinerPronunciation for s’incliner vi
  • German: verbeugen Pronunciation for verbeugen v
  • Chinese: 鞠躬Pronunciation for 鞠躬 v
  • Arabic: يَنْحَنِي لPronunciation for يَنْحَنِي ل vi
  • Portuguese: curvar-se em sinal de respeitoPronunciation for curvar-se em sinal de respeito v
  • Russian: кланятьсяPronunciation for кланяться v
  • Croatian: nagnuti sePronunciation for nagnuti se v
  • Czech: uklonit (se)Pronunciation for uklonit (se) v uklánět (se)
  • Danish: bukkePronunciation for bukke v
  • Dutch: buigenPronunciation for buigen v
  • Finnish: kumartaaPronunciation for kumartaa v
  • Greek: υποκλίνομαιPronunciation for υποκλίνομαι v
  • Italian: piegarsiPronunciation for piegarsi v
  • Japanese: お辞儀をするPronunciation for お辞儀をする v
  • Korean: 절하다Pronunciation for 절하다 v
  • Norwegian: bukkePronunciation for bukke v
  • Polish: ukłonić sięPronunciation for ukłonić się v kłaniać się
  • Brazilian Portuguese: fazer uma véniaPronunciation for fazer uma vénia v
  • European Spanish: hacer una reverenciaPronunciation for hacer una reverencia v
  • Swedish: buga (sig)Pronunciation for buga (sig) v
  • Thai: คำนับPronunciation for คำนับ v
  • Turkish: baş eğmePronunciation for baş eğme v
  • Vietnamese: cúi chàoPronunciation for cúi chào v
  • British English: bow A bow is a knot that you use to tie laces and ribbons.bəʊ NOUN
  • French: nœud nm
  • Arabic: أُنْشُوطَة n
  • Brazilian Portuguese: laço nm

Usage examples

  • Clearly she expected a fight, discounting whatever Lirael thought she was doing up at the bow.
    Garth Nix, LIRAEL: DAUGHTER OF THE CLAYR (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 (2004)
  • That evening, with our James Caird safely back aboard, we turned our bow northward toward South Georgia Island.
    Globe and Mail (2003)
  • On the ground floor, the kitchen (measuring 16ft 6in by 13ft 6in) has a long bow window overlooking the front garden.
    Glasgow Herald (2001)
  • Thought was given to setting a parachute anchor or drogue off the bow.
    Rob Mundle, FATAL STORM (2001)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'B'

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