Definition of Bow
1. Noun. A knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces.
2. Verb. Bend one's knee or body, or lower one's head. "She bowed her head in shame"
Specialized synonyms: Conge, Congee
Generic synonyms: Gesticulate, Gesture, Motion
3. Noun. A slightly curved piece of resilient wood with taut horsehair strands; used in playing certain stringed instruments.
4. Verb. Yield to another's wish or opinion. "The government bowed to the military pressure"
Generic synonyms: Buckle Under, Give In, Knuckle Under, Succumb, Yield
Derivative terms: Deference, Deferent, Submission, Submission, Submissive, Submitter
5. Noun. Front part of a vessel or aircraft. "He pointed the bow of the boat toward the finish line"
6. Verb. Bend the head or the upper part of the body in a gesture of respect or greeting. "He bowed before the King"
Generic synonyms: Change Posture
Also: Bow Down
7. Noun. A weapon for shooting arrows, composed of a curved piece of resilient wood with a taut cord to propel the arrow.
Terms within: Bowstring, Limb
Specialized synonyms: Crossbow, Cupid's Bow, Handbow, Longbow
Generic synonyms: Arm, Weapon, Weapon System
8. Verb. Bend one's back forward from the waist on down. "The young man stooped to pick up the girl's purse"
Entails: Change Posture
Generic synonyms: Bend, Flex
Specialized synonyms: Squinch, Cower, Huddle
Derivative terms: Crouch, Stoop, Stooper
Also: Stoop To
9. Noun. Something curved in shape.
Specialized synonyms: Rainbow
Generic synonyms: Curve, Curved Shape
Derivative terms: Arc
10. Verb. Play on a string instrument with a bow.
11. Noun. Bending the head or body or knee as a sign of reverence or submission or shame or greeting.
Generic synonyms: Reverence, Gesture, Motion
Specialized synonyms: Genuflection, Genuflexion, Kotow, Kowtow, Scrape, Scraping, Salaam
12. Noun. An appearance by actors or performers at the end of the concert or play in order to acknowledge the applause of the audience.
13. Noun. A decorative interlacing of ribbons.
14. Noun. A stroke with a curved piece of wood with taut horsehair strands that is used in playing stringed instruments.
Definition of Bow
1. v. t. To cause to deviate from straightness; to bend; to inflect; to make crooked or curved.
2. v. i. To bend; to curve.
3. n. An inclination of the head, or a bending of the body, in token of reverence, respect, civility, or submission; an obeisance; as, a bow of deep humility.
4. n. Anything bent, or in the form of a curve, as the rainbow.
5. v. i. To play (music) with a bow.
6. n. The bending or rounded part of a ship forward; the stream or prow.
Definition of Bow
1. Noun. A weapon made of a curved piece of wood or other flexible material whose ends are connected by a string, used for shooting arrows. ¹
2. Noun. A curved bend in a rod or planar surface, or in a linear formation such as a river (see ''oxbow''). ¹
3. Noun. A rod with horsehair (or an artificial substitute) stretched between the ends, used for playing various stringed musical instruments. ¹
4. Noun. A stringed instrument, similar to the item described above. ¹
5. Noun. A type of knot with two loops, used to tie together two cords such as shoelaces or apron strings, and frequently used as decoration, such as in gift-wrapping. ¹
6. Verb. To play music on (a stringed instrument) using a bow. ¹
7. Verb. (intransitive) To become bent or curved. ¹
8. Verb. (transitive) To make something bend or curve. ¹
9. Verb. (intransitive) To premiere. ¹
10. Noun. A gesture, usually showing respect, made by bending forward at the waist. ¹
11. Noun. A debut ¹
12. Verb. (intransitive) To bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference. ¹
13. Verb. (transitive and intransitive) To debut. ¹
14. Verb. (intransitive) To defer (to something). ¹
15. Noun. (nautical) The front of a boat or ship. ¹
¹ Source: wiktionary.com
Definition of Bow
1. to bend forward [v -ED, -ING, -S]
Medical Definition of Bow
1. To cause to deviate from straightness; to bend; to inflect; to make crooked or curved. "We bow things the contrary way, to make them come to their natural straightness." (Milton) "The whole nation bowed their necks to the worst kind of tyranny." (Prescott)
2. To exercise powerful or controlling influence over; to bend, figuratively; to turn; to incline. "Adversities do more bow men's minds to religion." (Bacon) "Not to bow and bias their opinions." (Fuller)
3. To bend or incline, as the head or body, in token of respect, gratitude, assent, homage, or condescension. "They came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him." (2 Kings II. 15)
4. To cause to bend down; to prostrate; to depress,; to crush; to subdue. "Whose heavy hand hath bowed you to the grave." (Shak)
5. To express by bowing; as, to bow one's thanks.
Origin: OE. Bowen, bogen, bugen, AS. Bugan (generally v.i); akin to D. Buigen, OHG. Biogan, G. Biegen, beugen, Icel. Boginn bent, beygja to bend, Sw. Boja, Dan. Boie, bugne, Coth. Biugan; also to L. Fugere to flee, Gr, and Skr. Bhuj to bend. Cf. Fugitive.
1. Anything bent, or in the form of a curve, as the rainbow. "I do set my bow in the cloud." (Gen. Ix. 13)
2. A weapon made of a strip of wood, or other elastic material, with a cord connecting the two ends, by means of which an arrow is propelled.
3. An ornamental knot, with projecting lops, formed by doubling a ribbon or string.
4. The U-shaped piece which embraces the neck of an ox and fastens it to the yoke.
5. An appliance consisting of an elastic rod, with a number of horse hairs stretched from end to end of it, used in playing on a stringed instrument.
6. An acrograph.
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