Definition of 'bow'

Word Frequency

bow bending or submitting

(baʊ )

Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense bows , present participle bowing , past tense, past participle bowed

1. verb

When you bow to someone, you briefly bend your body towards them as a formal way of greeting them or showing respect.

They bowed low to Louis and hastened out of his way. [VERB + to]

He bowed slightly before taking her bag. [VERB]

Synonyms: bend, bob, nod, incline More Synonyms of bow

Bow is also a noun.

I gave a theatrical bow and waved.

2. verb

If you bow your head, you bend it downwards so that you are looking towards the ground, for example because you want to show respect or because you are thinking deeply about something.

He bowed his head and whispered a prayer of thanksgiving. [VERB noun]

She stood still, head bowed, hands clasped in front of her. [VERB-ed]

3. verb

If you bow to pressure or to someone's wishes, you agree to do what they want you to do.

Some shops are bowing to consumer pressure and stocking organically grown vegetables. [VERB + to]

Parliament has bowed to the demand for a referendum next year. [VERB to noun]

4. passive verb

If you are bowed by something, you are made unhappy and anxious by it, and lose hope.

...their determination not to be bowed in the face of the allied attacks. [be VERB-ed]

To be bowed down means the same as to be bowed.

I am bowed down by my sins. [be VERB-ed PARTICLE]

See bow to the inevitable

See take a bow

Phrasal verbs:

See bow down

See bow out

More Synonyms of bow

Word Frequency

bow part of a ship

(baʊ )

Word forms: plural bows

countable noun

The front part of a ship is called the bow or the bows. The plural bows can be used to refer either to one or to more than one of these parts.

The waves were about five feet now, and the bow of the boat was leaping up and down.

...the sight of that magnificent ship lit up from bow to stern.

...spray from the ship's bows.

Synonyms: prow, head, stem, fore More Synonyms of bow

Word Frequency

bow objects

(boʊ )

Word forms: plural bows

1. countable noun

A bow is a knot with two loops and two loose ends that is used in tying shoelaces and ribbons.

Add a length of ribbon tied in a bow.

Synonyms: knot, tie, lace, loop More Synonyms of bow

2. countable noun

A bow is a weapon for shooting arrows which consists of a long piece of curved wood with a string attached to both its ends.

Some of the raiders were armed with bows and arrows.

Synonyms: longbow, crossbow More Synonyms of bow

3. countable noun

The bow of a violin or other stringed instrument is a long thin piece of wood with fibres stretched along it, which you move across the strings of the instrument in order to play it.

4. another string to your bow

Video: pronunciation of
bow

bow in British English 1

(baʊ )

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

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. bow and scrape

noun

a lowering or inclination of the head or body as a mark of respect, greeting, or assent

8. take a bow

Word origin

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

Word Frequency

bow in British English 2

(bəʊ )

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

bow in British English 3

(baʊ )

noun

1. mainly nautical

a. (often plural)

the forward end or part of a vessel

(as modifier)

the bow mooring line

2. rowing short for bowman2

3. on the port bow

4. on the starboard bow

5. 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

Word Frequency

Bow in British English

(bəʊ )

noun

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

Word Frequency

bow in American English 1

(baʊ )

verb intransitive

1. Dialectal

to bend or stoop

to bend down one's head or bend one's body in respect, agreement, worship, recognition, etc.

to yield or submit, as to authority

to express assent, greeting, etc. by bowing

verb transitive

5. Dialectal

to bend

to bend (one's head) down in respect, prayer, shame, etc.

to indicate (agreement, thanks, etc.) by bowing

to weigh (down); overwhelm; crush

the president was bowed down by the burdens of office

noun

a bending down of the head or body, as in respect or greeting

Idioms:

bow and scrape

bow out

take a bow

Word origin

ME bouen < OE bugan, to bend < IE base *bheugh-, to bend > Ger biegen; the bow1 noun is 17th c.

Word Frequency

bow in American English 2

(baʊ )

noun

1. [sometimes pl.]

the front part of a ship, boat, or airship; prow

the rower nearest the bow

3. Nautical

a direction at a 45° angle left or right from dead ahead

a whale sighted on the port bow

Word origin

ME boue < LowG or Scand: LowG būg, Du boeg, Swed bog, shoulder, shoulders of a ship, bows; akin to bough

Word Frequency

bow in American English 3

(boʊ )

noun

anything curved or bent

a rainbow, oxbow

a curve; bend

a device for shooting arrows, made of a flexible, curved strip of wood, metal, etc. with a tightly drawn cord connecting the two ends

an archer

a slender stick strung along its length with horsehairs, drawn across the strings of a violin, cello, etc. to play it

a stroke with such a bow

a bowknot or a decorative knot, as of ribbon, with two or more loops

either of the sidepieces of a pair of glasses extending over the ears; temple

adjective

bow-shaped; curved; bent

verb transitive, verb intransitive

to bend or curve in the shape of a bow

the wall bowed outward from the pressure

10. Music

to play (a violin, etc.) with a bow

Word origin

ME boue < OE boga < PGmc *boga < base of bow1

Examples of 'bow' in a sentence
bow

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.Read more…

Wearing a grey prison issue tracksuit he bowed his head and spoke only to confirm his name and address.Yet the visitors' first chance came with bows and ribbons.They wouldn't just clean the bricks and bow their heads.He bows out as one of the most popular figures in the paddock, universally liked and respected.All those who reckoned it looked a case of the ridiculous meeting the sublime, take a bow.But the reality telly favourite has finally decided to bow out, leaving producers struggling to find stars for another series.To redeem himself, he does agree to don a Santa suit and wear a little red bow on his head without looking too embarrassed.The pastor asks if they could all please bow their heads for prayer.She was about to have a bath and we put this little bow on her.There was a lot of tweed and at least one bow tie.

Word lists with
bow

architectural features

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Question: 1

Score: 0 / 5

Which architectural feature am I?

a buttress supporting a wall or other structure by an arch or part of an arch that transmits the thrust outwards and downwards

cyma flying buttress reveal

Which architectural feature am I?

an arch or vault, esp one used in a bridge or tunnel, that is set at an oblique angle to the span

gatehouse patio skew arch

Which architectural feature am I?

a small-scale arcade

arcature cloister gatehouse

Which architectural feature am I?

an ornamental pattern, esp as used in ancient Greek architecture

anthemion meander strigil

Which architectural feature am I?

an ornamental moulding having a zigzag pattern

accolade chevron egg and dart

Your score:

More idioms containing
bow

take a bow

bow and scrape

have another string to your bow

COBUILD Collocations
bow

head bowed

Trends of
bow

View usage for:

In other languages
bow

British English: bow /bəʊ/ NOUN

weapon 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.

American English: bow /ˈbaʊ, ˈboʊ/ weapon
Arabic: قَوس
Brazilian Portuguese: arco de flecha
Chinese: 弓
Croatian: luk
Czech: luk
Danish: bue våben
Dutch: boog wapen
European Spanish: arco arma
Finnish: jousipyssy
French: arc
German: Bogen Pfeil
Greek: τόξο
Italian: arco
Japanese: 弓
Korean: 활
Norwegian: bue pil-og-bue
Polish: łuk
European Portuguese: arco de flecha
Romanian: arc
Russian: лук
Latin American Spanish: arco
Swedish: båge kurva
Thai: คันธนู
Turkish: yay
Ukrainian: лук
Vietnamese: cung

British English: bow /baʊ/ VERB

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.

American English: bow /ˈbaʊ/
Arabic: يَنْحَنِي ل
Brazilian Portuguese: fazer uma vénia
Chinese: 鞠躬
Croatian: nakloniti se
Czech: uklonit se
Danish: bukke
Dutch: buigen knielen
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
European Portuguese: fazer uma vénia
Romanian: a se înclina
Russian: кланяться
Latin American Spanish: hacer una reverencia
Swedish: buga (sig)
Thai: คำนับ, โค้งคำนับ
Turkish: baş eğme
Ukrainian: вклонятися
Vietnamese: cúi chào

British English: bow /bəʊ/ NOUN

knot A bow is a knot that you use to tie laces and ribbons.

American English: bow /ˈbaʊ, ˈboʊ/
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
European Portuguese: laço
Romanian: fundă
Russian: узел бантик
Latin American Spanish: lazo
Swedish: knut
Thai: โบ
Turkish: papyon
Ukrainian: бант
Vietnamese: nơ

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Nearby words of
bow

Related terms of
bow

Source

Definition of bow from theCollins English Dictionary

New from Collins

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Question: 1

Score: 0 / 5

seam or seem?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

seem

seam

I to remember giving you very precise instructions.

passed or past?

Which version is correct?

I dashed passed him and out of the door. I dashed past him and out of the door.

taught or taut?

Which version is correct?

George taught me how to ride a horse. George taut me how to ride a horse.

currant or current?

Which version is correct?

I offered him a currant bun with his tea. I offered him a current bun with his tea.

morning or mourning?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

mourning

morning

Anger is part of the process.

Your score:

Feb 18, 2021

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Scrabble score
for 'bow':
8

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Question: 1

Score: 0 / 5

plain or plane?

Which version is correct?

A plain carpet makes a room look bigger. A plane carpet makes a room look bigger.

gait or gate?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

gate

gait

He opened the and started walking up to the house.

their or they're?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

they're

their

Some people eat when feeling low.

morning or mourning?

Which version is correct?

On Sunday morning, Bill was woken by the telephone. On Sunday mourning, Bill was woken by the telephone.

currant or current?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

currant

current

I offered him a bun with his tea.

Your score:

Definition of 'bow'

bow bending or submitting

bow part of a ship

bow objects

Video: pronunciation of bow

bow in British English 1

bow in British English 2

bow in British English 3

Bow in British English

bow in American English 1

bow in American English 2

bow in American English 3

Examples of 'bow' in a sentence bow

Word lists with bow

More idioms containing bow

COBUILD Collocations bow <span class="beta" style="background-image:url(&#34;/external/images/beta.png?version=4.0.131&#34;)">&nbsp;</span> <span class="logo_information" style="background-image:url(&#34;/external/images/information-button.svg?version=4.0.131&#34;)"> </span>

Trends of bow

In other languages bow

Nearby words of bow

Related terms of bow

Source

Video: pronunciation of
bow

Examples of 'bow' in a sentence
bow

Word lists with
bow

More idioms containing
bow

COBUILD Collocations
bow

Trends of
bow

In other languages
bow

Nearby words of
bow

Related terms of
bow