[bəʊ], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a knot tied with two loops and two loose ends, used especially for tying shoelaces and decorative ribbons
(e.g: a girl with long hair tied back in a bow)

- a weapon for shooting arrows, typically made of a curved piece of wood joined at both ends by a taut string

- a long, partially curved rod with horsehair stretched along its length, used for playing the violin and other stringed instruments

- a curved stroke forming part of a letter (e.g. b, p)

- a metal ring forming the handle of a key or pair of scissors


Phrases:
- have another string to one's bow
- have many strings to one's bow

Origin:
Old English boga ‘bend, bow, arch’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch boog and German Bogen, also to bow

[bəʊ], (Verb)

Definitions:
- play (a stringed instrument or music) using a bow
(e.g: the techniques by which the pieces were bowed)


Phrases:
- have another string to one's bow
- have many strings to one's bow

Origin:
Old English boga ‘bend, bow, arch’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch boog and German Bogen, also to bow

[baʊ], (Verb)

Definitions:
- bend the head or upper part of the body as a sign of respect, greeting, or shame
(e.g: he turned and bowed to his father)

- bend with age or under pressure
(e.g: the tree next to the house bowed in the wind)

- (of a new film or product) be premiered or launched
(e.g: the trailer bowed in theaters nationwide on December 23)


Phrases:
- bow and scrape
- make one's bow
- take a bow

Origin:
Old English būgan ‘bend, stoop’, of Germanic origin; related to German biegen, also to bow

[baʊ], (Noun)

Definitions:
- an act of bending the head or upper body as a sign of respect or greeting
(e.g: the man gave a little bow)


Phrases:
- bow and scrape
- make one's bow
- take a bow

Origin:
Old English būgan ‘bend, stoop’, of Germanic origin; related to German biegen, also to bow

[baʊ], (Noun)

Definitions:
- the front end of a ship
(e.g: water sprayed high over her bows)


Phrases:
- on the bow
- shot across the bows

Origin:
late Middle English: from Low German boog, Dutch boeg, ‘shoulder or ship's bow’; related to bough