bow

¹

[ bou ]

verb (used without object)

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.

   Synonyms: capitulate, comply, acquiesce, defer, accede, surrender

3. to bend or curve downward; stoop:

   the pines bowed low.

verb (used with object)

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 followed by in, out, etc.):

   They were bowed in by the footman.

6. to cause to bend; make curved or crooked.

noun

1. an inclination of the head or body in salutation, assent, thanks, reverence, respect, submission, etc.

verb phrase

1. to resign a position or withdraw from a job, competition, obligation, etc.:

   He bowed out after two terms as governor.

bow

²

[ boh ]

noun

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. bow tie ( def 1 ).
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.

adjective

1. curved outward at the center; bent:

   bow legs.

verb (used with or without object)

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 Obsolete. to loosen by passing a vibrating bow among entangled fibers.

bow

³

[ bou ]

noun

1. Nautical, Aeronautics.
   1. the forward end of a vessel or airship.
   2. either side of this forward end, especially with reference to the direction of a distant object:

      a mooring two points off the port bow.

2. bows, Nautical. the exterior of the forward end of a vessel, especially 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 the foremost oar.

adjective

1. of or relating to the bow of a ship.

Bow

⁴

[ boh ]

noun

1. Clara, 1905–65, U.S. film actress: known as the “It Girl.”

Bow

¹

/ bəʊ /

noun

1. BowClara19051965MUSFILMS AND TV: actress Clara , known as the It Girl . 1905–65, US film actress, noted for her vivacity and sex appeal

bow

²

/ baʊ /

noun

1. nautical
   1. often plural the forward end or part of a vessel
   2. ( as modifier )

      the bow mooring line

2. rowing short for bowman 2
3. on the port bow
   nautical within 45 degrees to the port of straight ahead
4. on the starboard bow
   nautical within 45 degrees to the starboard of straight ahead
5. a shot across someone's bows informal.
   a warning

bow

³

/ bəʊ /

noun

1. 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. 1. 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
   2. a stroke with such a stick
3. 1. a decorative interlacing of ribbon or other fabrics, usually having two loops and two loose ends
   2. the knot forming such an interlacing; bowknot
4. 1. something that is curved, bent, or arched
   2. ( in combination )

      rainbow

      oxbow

      saddlebow

5. a person who uses a bow and arrow; archer
6. 1. a frame of a pair of spectacles
   2. a sidepiece of the frame of a pair of spectacles that curls round behind the ear
7. a metal ring forming the handle of a pair of scissors or of a large old-fashioned key
8. architect part of a building curved in the form of a bow See also bow window

verb

1. to form or cause to form a curve or curves
2. to make strokes of a bow across (violin strings)

bow

⁴

/ baʊ /

verb

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

noun

1. a lowering or inclination of the head or body as a mark of respect, greeting, or assent
2. take a bow
   to acknowledge or receive applause or praise

Other Words From

• bowedness noun
• bowing·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of bow¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English verb bowen, Old English būgan; cognate with Dutch buigen, German biegen, Gothic biugan, Old Norse buga

Origin of bow²

First recorded before 1000; Middle English noun boue, bouwe, Old English boga; cognate with Dutch boog, German Bogen, Old Norse bogi; akin to bow ¹

Origin of bow³

First recorded in 1620–30; from Low German noun boog or Dutch boeg or Danish bov; bough

Word History and Origins

Origin of bow¹

C15: probably from Low German boog ; related to Dutch boeg , Danish bov ship's bow, shoulder; see bough

Origin of bow²

Old English boga arch, bow; related to Old Norse bogi a bow, Old High German bogo , Old Irish bocc , and bow ¹

Origin of bow³

Old English būgan , related to Old Norse bjūgr bent, Old High German biogan to bend, Dutch buigen

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. bow and scrape, to be excessively polite or deferential.
2. bows on, (of a ship) with the bow foremost:

   The vessel approached us bows on.

3. bows under, (of a ship) shipping water at the bow:

   The ship was bows under during most of the storm.

4. 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.

5. on the bow, Nautical. within 45° to the heading of the vessel.
6. take a bow, to step forward or stand up in order to receive recognition, applause, etc.:

   The conductor had the soloists take a bow.

More idioms and phrases containing bow

• take a bow
• two strings to one's bow

Synonym Study

See bend ¹.

Example Sentences

The announcement galvanised super-fan Carys Ashby to set up the petition to try to save it, but as the last of more than 4,500 episodes is broadcast, she has accepted defeat, saying its final bow represents the "end of an era".

From BBC

Regardless of the ultimate outcome of Gaetz’s bid to be attorney general, Trump has fired a warning shot across the bow of US government.

From BBC

Last month, he claimed that he refrained from prosecuting Clinton during his first term because “it would look terrible” — an implicit bow to political constraints.

From Los Angeles Times

The only thing lacking was shiny wrapping paper and a bright red bow.

From Los Angeles Times

This language continued through the 1860s, as evidenced by texts such as pro-slavery advocate J. Quitman Moore’s article in the Southern periodical De Bow’s Review titled “Feudalism in America.”

From Salon

Related Words

• accept
• acquiesce
• bend
• capitulate
• comply
• defer
• give in
• kowtow
• relent
• succumb
• surrender
• yield