bow

Noun · Verb
Synonyms: bowknotforeprowstemarcbowingobeisancecurtain callbow downsubmitdeferaccede

WordNet 3.0

Noun (9)

  1. a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelacesSynonyms: bowknot
  2. a slightly curved piece of resilient wood with taut horsehair strands; used in playing certain stringed instruments
  3. front part of a vessel or aircraft“he pointed the bow of the boat toward the finish line”Synonyms: foreprowstem
  4. a weapon for shooting arrows, composed of a curved piece of resilient wood with a taut cord to propel the arrow
  5. something curved in shapeSynonyms: arc
  6. bending the head or body or knee as a sign of reverence or submission or shame or greetingSynonyms: bowingobeisance
  7. an appearance by actors or performers at the end of the concert or play in order to acknowledge the applause of the audienceSynonyms: curtain call
  8. a decorative interlacing of ribbons
  9. a stroke with a curved piece of wood with taut horsehair strands that is used in playing stringed instruments

Verb (5)

  1. bend one's knee or body, or lower one's head“He bowed before the King”“She bowed her head in shame”Synonyms: bow down
  2. yield to another's wish or opinion“The government bowed to the military pressure”Synonyms: submitdeferaccedegive in
  3. bend the head or the upper part of the body in a gesture of respect or greeting“He bowed before the King”
  4. bend one's back forward from the waist on down“he crouched down”“She bowed before the Queen”“The young man stooped to pick up the girl's purse”Synonyms: crouchstoopbend
  5. play on a string instrument with a bow
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Bow \Bow\ (bou), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Bowing.] [OE. bowen, bogen, bugen, AS. b[=u]gan (generally v. i.); akin to D. buigen, OHG. biogan, G. biegen, beugen, Icel. boginn bent, beygja to bend, Sw. b["o]ja, Dan. b["o]ie, bugne, Coth. biugan; also to L. fugere to flee, Gr. ?, and Skr. bhuj to bend. [root]88. Cf. Fugitive.] [1913 Webster]

1.To cause to deviate from straightness; to bend; to inflect; to make crooked or curved. [1913 Webster]

We bow things the contrary way, to make them come to their natural straightness.— Milton.[1913 Webster]
The whole nation bowed their necks to the worst kind of tyranny.— Prescott.[1913 Webster]

2.To exercise powerful or controlling influence over; to bend, figuratively; to turn; to incline. [1913 Webster]

Adversities do more bow men's minds to religion.— Bacon.[1913 Webster]
Not to bow and bias their opinions.— Fuller.[1913 Webster]

3.To bend or incline, as the head or body, in token of respect, gratitude, assent, homage, or condescension. [1913 Webster]

They came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.— 2 Kings ii. 15.[1913 Webster]

4.To cause to bend down; to prostrate; to depress,;? to crush; to subdue. [1913 Webster]

Whose heavy hand hath bowed you to the grave.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

5.To express by bowing; as, to bow one's thanks. [1913 Webster]

Bow \Bow\ (bou), v. i.

1.To bend; to curve. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

2.To stop. [Archaic] [1913 Webster]

They stoop, they bow down together.— Is. xlvi. 2?[1913 Webster]

3.To bend the head, knee, or body, in token of reverence or submission; -- often with down. [1913 Webster]

O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.— Ps. xcv. 6.[1913 Webster]

4.To incline the head in token of salutation, civility, or assent; to make bow. [1913 Webster]

Admired, adored by all circling crowd, For wheresoe'er she turned her face, they bowed.— Dryden.[1913 Webster]
Bow \Bow\ (bou), 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. [1913 Webster]
Bow \Bow\ (b[=o]), n. [OE. bowe, boge, AS. boga, fr. AS. b[=u]gan to bend; akin to D. boog, G. bogen, Icel. bogi. See Bow, v. t.] [1913 Webster]

1.Anything bent, or in the form of a curve, as the rainbow. [1913 Webster]

I do set my bow in the cloud.— Gen. ix. 13.[1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

3.An ornamental knot, with projecting loops, formed by doubling a ribbon or string. [1913 Webster]

4.The U-shaped piece which embraces the neck of an ox and fastens it to the yoke. [1913 Webster]

5.(Mus.) 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. [1913 Webster]

6.An arcograph. [1913 Webster]

7.(Mech. & Manuf.) Any instrument consisting of an elastic rod, with ends connected by a string, employed for giving reciprocating motion to a drill, or for preparing and arranging the hair, fur, etc., used by hatters. [1913 Webster]

8.(Naut.) A rude sort of quadrant formerly used for taking the sun's altitude at sea. [1913 Webster]

9.(Saddlery) sing. or pl. Two pieces of wood which form the arched forward part of a saddletree. [1913 Webster]

Bow bearer (O. Eng. Law), an under officer of the forest who looked after trespassers.

Bow drill, a drill worked by a bow and string.

Bow instrument (Mus.), any stringed instrument from which the tones are produced by the bow.

Bow window (Arch.) See Bay window.

To draw a long bow, to lie; to exaggerate. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]

Bow \Bow\ (b[=o]), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Bowing.] To play (music) with a bow. -- v. i. To manage the bow. [1913 Webster]
Bow \Bow\ (b[=o]), n. [Icel. b[=o]gr shoulder, bow of a ship. See Bough.] [1913 Webster]

1.(Naut.) The bending or rounded part of a ship forward; the stream or prow. [1913 Webster]

2.(Naut.) One who rows in the forward part of a boat; the bow oar. [1913 Webster]

Bow chaser (Naut.), a gun in the bow for firing while chasing another vessel. --Totten. [1913 Webster]

Bow piece, a piece of ordnance carried at the bow of a ship.

On the bow (Naut.), on that part of the horizon within 45[deg] on either side of the line ahead. --Totten. [1913 Webster]

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