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. See bow and scrape

noun

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

8. See 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. 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

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

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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.