bow
Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
bow
something bent, curved, or arched; a knot usually having two ends and two loops: She tied her sash into a bow.
Not to be confused with:
beau – boyfriend of a girl or woman: I think my sister has a beau.
bow
the front section of a ship or boat; to bend the body, head, or knee as in greeting: bow to the king; submit: bow to a request
Not to be confused with:
bough – tree branch: They hung the swing from the largest bough.
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
bow 1
(bou)n. Nautical
1. The front section of a ship or boat.
2. Either of the sides of this front section: the starboard bow.
3. The oar or the person wielding the oar closest to the bow in a racing shell.
bow 2
(bou)v. bowed, bow·ing, bows
v.intr.
1. To bend or curve downward; stoop.
2. To incline the body or head or bend the knee in greeting, consent, courtesy, acknowledgment, submission, or veneration.
3. To yield in defeat or out of courtesy; submit. See Synonyms at yield.
v.tr.
1. To bend (the head, knee, or body) to express greeting, consent, courtesy, acknowledgment, submission, or veneration.
2. To convey (greeting, for example) by bending the body.
3. To escort deferentially: bowed us into the restaurant.
4. To cause to acquiesce; submit.
5. To overburden: Grief bowed them down.
n.
Phrasal Verb: An inclination of the head or body, as in greeting, consent, courtesy, acknowledgment, submission, or veneration.
bow out
Idiom: To remove oneself; withdraw.
bow and scrape
To behave obsequiously.
bow 3
(bō)n.
1. A bent, curved, or arched object.
2. A weapon consisting of a curved, flexible strip of material, especially wood, strung taut from end to end and used to launch arrows.
3.
a. An archer.
b. Archers considered as a group.
4.
a. Music A rod having horsehair drawn tightly between its two raised ends, used in playing instruments of the violin and viol families.
b. A stroke made by this rod.
5. A knot usually having two loops and two ends; a bowknot.
6.
a. A frame for the lenses of a pair of eyeglasses.
b. The part of such a frame passing over the ear.
7. A rainbow.
8. An oxbow.
v. bowed, bow·ing, bows
v.tr.
1. To bend (something) into the shape of a bow.
2. Music To play (a stringed instrument) with a bow.
v.intr.
1. To bend into a curve or bow.
2. Music To play a stringed instrument with a bow.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
bow
(baʊ)vb
1. to lower (one's head) or bend (one's knee or body) as a sign of respect, greeting, assent, or shame
2. 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. bow and scrape to behave in an excessively deferential or obsequious way
n
7. a lowering or inclination of the head or body as a mark of respect, greeting, or assent
8. take a bow to acknowledge or receive applause or praise
[Old English būgan, related to Old Norse bjūgr bent, Old High German biogan to bend, Dutch buigen]
bow
(bəʊ)n
1. (Archery) 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. (Instruments)
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. (Knots)
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.
a. something that is curved, bent, or arched
b. (in combination): rainbow; oxbow; saddlebow.
5. (Archery) a person who uses a bow and arrow; archer
6. (Medicine)
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. (Antiques) a metal ring forming the handle of a pair of scissors or of a large old-fashioned key
8. (Architecture) architect part of a building curved in the form of a bow. See also bow window
vb
9. to form or cause to form a curve or curves
10. (Classical Music) to make strokes of a bow across (violin strings)
[Old English boga arch, bow; related to Old Norse bogi a bow, Old High German bogo, Old Irish bocc, and bow1]
bow
(baʊ)n
1. (Nautical Terms) chiefly nautical
a. (often plural) the forward end or part of a vessel
b. (as modifier): the bow mooring line.
2. (Nautical Terms) rowing short for bowman
3. (Nautical Terms) on the port bow nautical within 45 degrees to the port of straight ahead
4. (Nautical Terms) on the starboard bow nautical within 45 degrees to the starboard of straight ahead
5. a shot across someone's bows informal a warning
[C15: probably from Low German boog; related to Dutch boeg, Danish bov ship's bow, shoulder; see bough]
Bow
(bəʊ)n
(Biography) Clara, known as the It Girl. 1905–65, US film actress, noted for her vivacity and sex appeal
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
bow1
(baʊ)v.i.
1. to bend the knee or body or incline the head, as in reverence, submission, or salutation.
2. to yield; submit: to bow to the inevitable.
3. to bend or curve downward; stoop: The pines bowed low.
v.t. 4. to bend or incline (the knee, body, or head) in worship, submission, respect, civility, etc.
5. to cause to submit; subdue; crush.
6. to cause to stoop or incline.
7. to express by a bow: to bow one's thanks.
8. to usher (someone) with a bow: They were bowed in by the footman.
9. to cause to bend; make curved or crooked.
10. bow out, to withdraw by choice, as from a task; retire.
n. 11. an inclination of the head or body in salutation, assent, thanks, reverence, submission, etc.
Idioms: bow and scrape, to be excessively polite or deferential.
[before 900; Middle English bowen (v.), Old English būgan; c. Dutch buigen]
bow2
(boʊ)n.
1. a flexible strip of wood or other material, bent by a string stretched between its ends, for shooting arrows.
2. a bend or curve.
3. a readily loosened knot for joining the ends of a ribbon or string, having two projecting loops.
4. a loop or gathering of ribbon, paper, etc., used as a decoration.
5. a flexible rod having horsehairs stretched from end to end, used for playing a musical instrument of the viol or violin families.
6. something curved or arc-shaped.
7. an archer; bowman.
9. rainbow.
10. a U-shaped piece for placing under an animal's neck to hold a yoke.
adj. 11. curved outward at the center; bent: bow legs.
v.t., v.i. 12. to bend into the form of a bow; curve.
13. to perform with a bow on a stringed instrument.
[before 1000; Middle English bowe (n.), Old English boga]
bow′less, adj.
bow3
(baʊ)n.
1. the forward end of a vessel or airship.
2. the foremost oar in rowing a boat.
adj. 3. of or pertaining to the bow of a ship.
[1620–30; < Low German boog (n.) or Dutch boeg or Dan bov; see bough]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
Bow
a herd of cattle; the cattle on a farm [the livestock], c. 1300; bowmen or archers collectively, 1511.Example: bow of ky [Scots ‘cattle’], 1568.
Bow, Bowpot, Boughpot
a bouquet of flowers or boughs; a bunch of flowers, 1848; a pot for holding boughs or flowers for ornament, 1583.Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
bow
Past participle: bowed
Gerund: bowing
| Imperative |
|---|
| bow |
| bow |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  bow - a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelacesknot - any of various fastenings formed by looping and tying a rope (or cord) upon itself or to another rope or to another object |
| 2. | bow - a slightly curved piece of resilient wood with taut horsehair strands; used in playing certain stringed instruments fiddlestick, violin bow - a bow used in playing the violin stick - an implement consisting of a length of wood; "he collected dry sticks for a campfire"; "the kid had a candied apple on a stick" | |
| 3. |  bow - front part of a vessel or aircraft; "he pointed the bow of the boat toward the finish line"front - the side that is seen or that goes first vessel, watercraft - a craft designed for water transportation | |
| 4. | bow - a weapon for shooting arrows, composed of a curved piece of resilient wood with a taut cord to propel the arrow bow and arrow - a weapon consisting of arrows and the bow to shoot them bowstring - the string of an archer's bow crossbow - a bow fixed transversely on a wooden stock grooved to direct the arrow (quarrel) Cupid's bow - a curved bow with reversed curve ends handbow - a bow drawn by hand as distinguished from a crossbow limb - either of the two halves of a bow from handle to tip; "the upper limb of the bow" longbow - a powerful wooden bow drawn by hand; usually 5-6 feet long; used in medieval England weapon, weapon system, arm - any instrument or instrumentality used in fighting or hunting; "he was licensed to carry a weapon" | |
| 5. |  bow - something curved in shape rainbow - an arc of colored light in the sky caused by refraction of the sun's rays by rain curve, curved shape - the trace of a point whose direction of motion changes | |
| 6. |  bow - bending the head or body or knee as a sign of reverence or submission or shame or greetingreverence - an act showing respect (especially a bow or curtsy) motion, gesture - the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals genuflection, genuflexion - the act of bending the knees in worship or reverence kotow, kowtow - a former Chinese custom of touching the ground with the forehead as a sign of respect or submission scrape, scraping - a deep bow with the foot drawn backwards (indicating excessive humility); "all that bowing and scraping did not impress him" salaam - a deep bow; a Muslim form of salutation | |
| 7. |  bow - an appearance by actors or performers at the end of the concert or play in order to acknowledge the applause of the audiencethanks - an acknowledgment of appreciation | |
| 8. | bow - a decorative interlacing of ribbons | |
| 9. | bow - a stroke with a curved piece of wood with taut horsehair strands that is used in playing stringed instruments stroke - a single complete movement down-bow - a downward stroke from the heel to the tip of the bow up-bow - an upward stroke from the tip to the heel of the bow | |
| Verb | 1. | bow - bend one's knee or body, or lower one's head; "He bowed before the King"; "She bowed her head in shame" gesticulate, gesture, motion - show, express or direct through movement; "He gestured his desire to leave" |
| 2. | bow - yield to another's wish or opinion; "The government bowed to the military pressure" | |
| 3. | bow - bend the head or the upper part of the body in a gesture of respect or greeting; "He bowed before the King" take a bow - acknowledge applause by inclining the head, as of an artist after a performance change posture - undergo a change in bodily posture genuflect - bend the knees and bow in church or before a religious superior or image | |
| 4. |  bow - 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"squinch - crouch down | |
| 5. | bow - play on a string instrument with a bow music - musical activity (singing or whistling etc.); "his music was his central interest" play - play on an instrument; "The band played all night long" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
bow
1verb
noun
1. bending, bob, nod, inclination, salaam, obeisance, kowtow, genuflection I gave a theatrical bow and waved.
bow down to someone grovel to, suck up to (slang), fawn on, cringe to, court, toady to We should not have to bow down to anyone.
bow out give up, retire, withdraw, get out, resign, quit, pull out, step down (informal), back out, throw in the towel, cop out (slang), throw in the sponge, call it a day or night He bowed out gracefully when his successor was appointed.
bow to something or someone give in to, accept, comply with, succumb to, submit to, surrender to, yield to, defer to, concede to, acquiesce to, kowtow to She is having to bow to their terms.
bow
2bow
3noun
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
bow 1
verb2. To give in from or as if from a gradual loss of strength:
Informal: fold.
3. To conform to the will or judgment of another, especially out of respect or courtesy:
Idioms: give ground, give way.
An inclination of the head or body, as in greeting, consent, courtesy, submission, or worship:
bow 2
nounverbThe American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
إنْحِناءهأُنْشُوطَةأُنْشوطَهانحنىقَوس
лък
lukpoklonapříďsmyčecklička
buesløjfebovbukbukke
arĉoarko
کمان
kumartaakumartuarusettitaipuataivuttaa
lukmašnanakloniti se
íjmeghajolvonó
busur
slaufabogiframstafn; kinnungur, bógurhneigja sighneigja sig, kinka kolli
お辞儀するお辞儀をするちょう結び弓辞儀する
매듭절하다활
arcus
izjust dziļu cieņuizrādot piekrišanu)liektliektieslociņš
arc
lukmašľapokloniť saprovaskloniť sa
lokpoklonprikloniti sesklonitivozel
bågeböjabuga (sig)knutkröka
โบว์คันธนูคำนับ
лук
cungnơcúi chào
bow
1 [bəʊ]A. N
B. CPD bow legs NPL → piernas fpl arqueadas
bow tie N → pajarita f
bow window N → mirador m, ventana f salediza
bow tie N → pajarita f
bow window N → mirador m, ventana f salediza
bow
2 [baʊ]A. N (= greeting) → reverencia f
to make a bow → inclinarse (to delante de) → hacer una reverencia (to a) to make one's bow → presentarse, debutar
to take a bow → salir a agradecer los aplausos, salir a saludar
to make a bow → inclinarse (to delante de) → hacer una reverencia (to a) to make one's bow → presentarse, debutar
to take a bow → salir a agradecer los aplausos, salir a saludar
B. VT
3. to bow one's thanks → inclinarse en señal de agradecimiento
C. VI
1. (in greeting) → inclinarse (to delante de) → hacer una reverencia (to a) to bow and scrape → mostrarse demasiado solícito
3. (fig) (= yield) → inclinarse or ceder (to ante) to bow to the inevitable → resignarse a lo inevitable
bow down
A. VT + ADV (lit, fig) → doblegar
B. VI + ADV (lit, fig) → doblegarse
bow out VI + ADV (fig) → retirarse, despedirse
bow
3 [baʊ]A. N (Naut) (also bows) → proa f
on the port/starboard bow → a babor/estribor
a shot across the bows → un cañonazo de advertencia
on the port/starboard bow → a babor/estribor
a shot across the bows → un cañonazo de advertencia
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
bow
1 [ˈbəʊ] n [violin, cello] → archet m
bow
2 [ˈbaʊ] vt [+ head] → courber
to bow out of sth (= withdraw from) → se retirer de qch
bow out
[baʊ] vi → tirer sa révérenceto bow out of sth (= withdraw from) → se retirer de qch
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
bow
:bowlegs
pl → O-Beine pl
bow
:bow tie
n → Fliege f
bow
1n
(= knot: of ribbon etc) → Schleife f
vt (Mus) → streichen
bow
2n (with head, body) → Verbeugung f; (by young boy) → Diener m; to make one’s bow to somebody → sich vor jdm verbeugen or verneigen (geh), → jdm seine Reverenz erweisen (form); to take a bow → sich verbeugen or verneigen; take a bow (fig: = take the credit) → das haben wir Ihnen zu verdanken
vi
(person: with body) → sich verbeugen, sich verneigen (geh) → (to sb vor jdm); (young boy) → einen Diener machen; to bow and scrape → katzbuckeln (pej), → liebedienern (pej)
(fig: = defer, submit) → sich beugen (→ before vor +dat, → under unter +dat, → to +dat); to bow to the majority → sich der Mehrheit beugen; to bow to the inevitable → sich in das Unvermeidliche fügen
vt
bow
3Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
bow
1 [bəʊ] n → arco (Mus) → archetto; (knot) → fiocco, nodobow
2 [baʊ]2. vt (lower, head) → chinare; (bend, back) → curvare, piegare
bowed down by cares → schiacciato/a dalle preoccupazioni
bowed down by cares → schiacciato/a dalle preoccupazioni
3. vi to bow (to) → inchinarsi (a), fare un inchino (a) (fig) (yield) → inchinarsi (di fronte a)
to bow to the inevitable → rassegnarsi all'inevitabile
to bow to the inevitable → rassegnarsi all'inevitabile
bow down vi + adv to bow down (to) → prostrarsi (davanti a)
bow
3 [bau] n (Naut) (also bows) → pruaon the port/starboard bow → di prua a sinistra/a destra
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
bow1
(bau) verb1. to bend (the head and often also the upper part of the body) forwards in greeting a person etc. He bowed to the ladies; They bowed their heads in prayer.
2. (with to) to accept. I bow to your superior knowledge.
noun a bowing movement. He made a bow to the ladies.
bowed adjective (often with down) bent downwards, eg by the weight of something. The trees were bowed down with fruit.
bow2
(bəu) noun1. a springy curved rod bent by a string, by which arrows are shot.
2. a rod with horsehair stretched along it, by which the strings of a violin etc are sounded.
3. a looped knot of material. Her dress is decorated with bows.
noun (bau) (often in plural) the front of a ship or boat. The waves broke over the bows.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
bow
→ أُنْشُوطَة, قَوس, يَنْحَنِي ل klička, luk, uklonit se bue, bukke, sløjfe Bogen, Haarschleife, verbeugen τόξο, υποκλίνομαι, φιόγκος arco, hacer una reverencia, lazo jousipyssy, kumartaa, rusetti arc, nœud, s’incliner luk, mašna, nakloniti se arco, inchinarsi, nodo お辞儀をする, ちょう結び, 弓 매듭, 절하다, 활 boog, buigen, strik bue, bukke, knute kokardka, łuk, ukłonić się arco de flecha, fazer uma vénia, laço кланяться, лук, узел бантик båge, buga (sig), knut โบว์, คันธนู, คำนับ baş eğme, papyon, yay cúi chào, cung, nơ 弓, 蝴蝶结, 鞠躬Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009