Dictionary
bow
Pronunciation: (bou), [key]—
v.i.
1. to bend the knee or body or incline the head, as in reverence, submission, salutation, recognition, or acknowledgment.
2. to yield; submit:
to bow to the inevitable.
3. to bend or curve downward; stoop:
the pines bowed low.
—
v.t.
1. to bend or incline (the knee, body, or head) in worship, submission, respect, civility, agreement, etc.:
He bowed his head to the crowd.
2. to cause to submit; subdue; crush.
3. to cause to stoop or incline:
Age had bowed his head.
4. to express by a bow:
to bow one's thanks.
5. to usher (someone) with a bow (usually fol. by
in, out, etc.):
They were bowed in by the footman.
6. to cause to bend; make curved or crooked.
7. bow and scrape, to be excessively polite or deferential.
8. bow out, to resign a position or withdraw from a job, competition, obligation, etc.:
He bowed out after two terms as governor.
—
n.
1. an inclination of the head or body in salutation, assent, thanks, reverence, respect, submission, etc.
2. make one's bow, to appear publicly for the first time, as a performer, politician, etc.:
The young pianist made her bow last night to an appreciative audience.
3. take a bow, to step forward or stand up in order to receive recognition, applause, etc.:
The conductor had the soloists take a bow. bow
Pronunciation: (bō), [key]—
n.
1. a flexible strip of wood or other material, bent by a string stretched between its ends, for shooting arrows:
He drew the bow and sent the arrow to its target.
2. an instrument resembling this, used for various purposes, as rotating a drill or spindle, or loosening entangled or matted fibers.
3. a bend or curve.
4. Also called
bowknot. a looped knot composed of two or more loops and two ends, as for tying together the ends of a ribbon or string.
5. any separate piece of looped, knotted, or shaped gathering of ribbon, cloth, paper, etc., used as a decoration, as on a package, dress, or the like.
6. a long rod, originally curved but now nearly straight, with horsehairs stretched from one end to the other, used for playing on a musical instrument of the violin and viol families.
7. a single movement of such a device over the strings of a violin, viol, or the like.
8. See
bow tie.
9. something curved or arc-shaped.
10. a saddlebow.
11. an archer; bowman:
He is the best bow in the county.
12. temple
2 (def. 3).
13. a
U-shaped piece for placing under an animal's neck to hold a yoke.
14. Building Trades.a flexible rod used for laying out large curves.
15. the part of a key grasped by the fingers.
16. the loop on the stem of a watch by which the watch is attached to a chain or the like.
17. a rainbow.
—
adj.
curved outward at the center; bent:
bow legs.
—
v.t., v.i.
1. to bend into the form of a bow; curve.
2. Music.to perform by means of a bow upon a stringed instrument.
3. Textiles Obs.to loosen by passing a vibrating bow among entangled fibers.
bow
Pronunciation: (bou), [key]—
n.
1. Naut., Aeron.
a. the forward end of a vessel or airship.
b. either side of this forward end, esp. with reference to the direction of a distant object:
a mooring two points off the port bow.
2. bows, Naut.the exterior of the forward end of a vessel, esp. one in which the hull slopes back on both sides of the stem.
3. the foremost oar in rowing a boat.
4. Also called
bowman, bow oar. the person who pulls that oar.
5. bows on, (of a ship) with the bow foremost:
The vessel approached us bows on.
6. bows under, (of a ship) shipping water at the bow:
The ship was bows under during most of the storm.
7. on the bow, Naut.within 45° to the heading of the vessel.
—
adj.
of or pertaining to the bow of a ship.
Bow
Pronunciation: (bō), [key]—
n.
Clara, 1905–65, U.S. film actress: known as the “It Girl.”
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
