The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Bend \Bend\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bended or Bent; p. pr. &
   vb. n. Bending.] [AS. bendan to bend, fr. bend a band,
   bond, fr. bindan to bind. See Bind, v. t., and cf. 3d & 4th
   Bend.]
   1. To strain or move out of a straight line; to crook by
      straining; to make crooked; to curve; to make ready for
      use by drawing into a curve; as, to bend a bow; to bend
      the knee.
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   2. To turn toward some certain point; to direct; to incline.
      "Bend thine ear to supplication." --Milton.
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            Towards Coventry bend we our course.  --Shak.
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            Bending her eyes . . . upon her parent. --Sir W.
                                                  Scott.
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   3. To apply closely or with interest; to direct.
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            To bend his mind to any public business. --Temple.
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            But when to mischief mortals bend their will.
                                                  --Pope.
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   4. To cause to yield; to render submissive; to subdue.
      "Except she bend her humor." --Shak.
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   5. (Naut.) To fasten, as one rope to another, or as a sail to
      its yard or stay; or as a cable to the ring of an anchor.
      --Totten.
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   To bend the brow, to knit the brow, as in deep thought or
      in anger; to scowl; to frown. --Camden.
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   Syn: To lean; stoop; deflect; bow; yield.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Bending \Bend"ing\, n.
   The marking of the clothes with stripes or horizontal bands.
   [Obs.] --Chaucer.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

bending
    n 1: movement that causes the formation of a curve [syn:
         bending, bend]
    2: the property of being bent or deflected [syn: deflection,
       deflexion, bending]
    3: the act of bending something