bend

¹

[ bend ]

verb (used with object)

, bent or (Archaic) bend·ed; bend·ing.

1. to force (an object, especially a long or thin one) from a straight form into a curved or angular one, or from a curved or angular form into some different form:

   to bend an iron rod into a hoop.

   Synonyms: bow, flex, crook, curve

2. to direct or turn in a particular direction:

   to bend one's energies to the task.

3. to cause to submit or yield:

   to bend someone to one's will.

   Synonyms: sway, persuade, compel, shape, mold, influence

4. to modify or relax (restrictions, regulations, etc.) temporarily or in certain circumstances:

   to bend the rules.

5. to incline mentally (usually followed by to or toward ):

   bending his thoughts back toward his childhood.

6. to pull back the string of (a bow or the like) in preparation for shooting.
7. Nautical. to fasten.
8. Archaic. to strain or brace tensely (often followed by up ).

verb (used without object)

, bent or (Archaic) bend·ed; bend·ing.

1. to become curved, crooked, or bent:

   a bow that bends easily.

2. to assume a bent posture; stoop (often followed by over ):

   to bend as one walks;

   to bend over and pick up something.

3. to turn or incline in a particular direction; be directed:

   The road bent toward the south.

4. to yield or submit; give in.
5. to bow in submission or reverence:

   bending to one's monarch.

6. to direct one's energies:

   We bent to our work as the bell sounded.

noun

1. the act of bending.
2. something that bends; curve; crook:

   a bend in the road;

   a bend in the curtain rod.

3. Nautical. any of various loops or knots for joining the ends of two ropes or the like, or for joining the end of a rope or the like to some other object.
4. bends, Nautical.
   1. thick planking immediately below the waterways of a wooden vessel.
   2. the wales of a vessel.
5. the bends, aeroembolism ( def 2 ).

bend

²

[ bend ]

noun

1. Heraldry.
   1. a diagonal band extending from the dexter chief of an escutcheon to the sinister base. Compare bend sinister.
   2. in bend, (of a charge) set diagonally or in a diagonal row.
2. Tanning. half of a trimmed butt or hide.

Bend

³

[ bend ]

noun

1. a city in central Oregon.

bend

¹

/ bɛnd /

noun

1. heraldry an ordinary consisting of a diagonal line traversing a shield

bend

²

/ bɛnd /

verb

1. to form or cause to form a curve, as by pushing or pulling
2. to turn or cause to turn from a particular direction

   the road bends left past the church

3. intr; often foll by down, etc to incline the body; stoop; bow
4. to submit or cause to submit

   to bend before superior force

5. tr to turn or direct (one's eyes, steps, attention, etc)
6. tr to concentrate (the mind); apply oneself closely
7. tr nautical to attach or fasten, as a sail to a boom or a line to a cleat
8. bend over backwards informal.
   to make a special effort, esp in order to please

   he bends over backwards to accommodate his customers

9. bend someone's ear informal.
   to speak at length to an unwilling listener, esp to voice one's troubles
10. bend the rules informal.
    to ignore rules or change them to suit one's own convenience

noun

1. a curved part, as in a road or river
2. nautical a knot or eye in a line for joining it to another or to an object
3. the act or state of bending
4. round the bend slang.
   mad; crazy; eccentric

Derived Forms

• ˈbendable, adjective

Other Words From

• benda·ble adjective
• non·bending adjective
• re·benda·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bend¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English verb benden, binde, Old English bendan “to bind, bend (a bow)”; cognate with Middle High German benden, Old Norse benda; akin to Old Norse band “band, cord, confederacy”; band ³

Origin of bend²

First recorded before 1000; Middle English adjective bende; blend of Old English bend “band, fetter” and Middle French bende ( Medieval Latin benda, binda ); band ², band ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of bend¹

Old English bend band ²; see bend ¹

Origin of bend²

Old English bendan ; related to Old Norse benda , Middle High German benden ; see bind , band ³

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. around / round the bend, Slang. insane; crazy:

   These interruptions will send me round the bend!

2. bend / lean / fall over backward, to exert oneself to the utmost; make a serious effort:

   They bent over backward to make sure their guests were comfortable.

More idioms and phrases containing bend

• around the bend
• crook (bend) one's elbow
• on bended knee

Synonym Study

Bend, bow, stoop imply taking a bent posture. Bend and bow are used of the head and upper body; stoop is used of the body only.

Example Sentences

"It’s my 'Bend it Like Santa' film," she said.

From BBC

The Oregon farm, which is located in an area just east of Bend, is not a commercial operation, according to the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times

Officials project that they’ll have enough money to buy out 20 property owners in the Portuguese Bend area, the majority of whom face increased property damage and indefinite utility shutoffs due to land movement.

From Los Angeles Times

Mike Hong, a Portuguese Bend resident who has been living without electricity for almost two months, owns one of the homes that will be getting power back starting Friday.

From Los Angeles Times

However since July, the beaches and surrounding trails have been closed due to land movement in the Portuguese Bend area.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bow
• buckle
• crouch
• curl
• flex
• incline
• lean
• stoop
• tilt
• twist
• veer