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bow1
- 1) verb, to lower (one's head) or bend (one's knee or body) as a sign of respect, greeting, assent, or shame
- 2) verb, to bend or cause to bend; incline downwards
- 3) verb, to comply or accept
- 4) verb, to usher (someone) into or out of a place with bows and deference
- 5) verb, to bring (a person, nation, etc) to a state of submission
- 6) verb, bow and scrape to behave in an excessively deferential or obsequious way
- 7) noun, a lowering or inclination of the head or body as a mark of respect, greeting, or assent
- 8) noun, take a bow to acknowledge or receive applause or praise ▷ See also bow out
Etymology
Old English būgan, related to Old Norse bjūgr bent, Old High German biogan to bend, Dutch buigen
Collins English Electronic Dictionary - Digital Edition: 2008 © HarperCollins Publishers 2008
bow2
- 1) 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. See also crossbow
- 2) noun, a) a long slightly curved stick across which are stretched strands of horsehair, used for playing the strings of a violin, viola, cello, or related instrument b) a stroke with such a stick
- 3) noun, a) a decorative interlacing of ribbon or other fabrics, usually having two loops and two loose ends b) the knot forming such an interlacing; bowknot
- 4) noun, a) something that is curved, bent, or arched b) (in combination)
- 5) noun, a person who uses a bow and arrow; archer
- 6) noun, a) a frame of a pair of spectacles b) a sidepiece of the frame of a pair of spectacles that curls round behind the ear
- 7) noun, a metal ring forming the handle of a pair of scissors or of a large old-fashioned key
- 8) noun, architect part of a building curved in the form of a bow. See also bow window
- 9) verb, to form or cause to form a curve or curves
- 10) verb, to make strokes of a bow across (violin strings)
Etymology
Old English boga arch, bow; related to Old Norse bogi a bow, Old High German bogo, Old Irish bocc, and bow1
Collins English Electronic Dictionary - Digital Edition: 2008 © HarperCollins Publishers 2008
bow3
- 1) noun, chiefly nautical a) the forward end or part of a vessel b) (as modifier)
- 2) noun, rowing. short for bowman
- 3) noun, on the port (or starboard) bow nautical within 45 degrees to the port (or starboard) of straight ahead
- 4) noun, a shot across someone's bows a warning
Etymology
C15: probably from Low German boog; related to Dutch boeg, Danish bov ship's bow, shoulder; see bough
Collins English Electronic Dictionary - Digital Edition: 2008 © HarperCollins Publishers 2008
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Synonyms
bend, bob, nod, inclination, salaam, obeisance, kowtow, genuflect, bend, bob, nod, incline, stoop, droop, genuflect, Nautical prow, head, stem, fore, beak