Dictionary

A weapon made of a curved piece of wood or other flexible material whose ends are connected by a string, used for shooting arrows.

A curved bend in a rod or planar surface, or in a linear formation such as a river (see oxbow).

A rod with horsehair (or an artificial substitute) stretched between the ends, used for playing various stringed musical instruments.

A stringed instrument (chordophone), consisting of a stick with a single taut cord stretched between the ends, most often played by plucking.

To play music on (a stringed) instrument using a bow.

Example: The musician bowed his violin expertly.

To become bent or curved.

Example: The shelf bowed under the weight of the books.

To make something bend or curve.

To exercise powerful or controlling influence over; to bend, figuratively; to turn; to incline.

A gesture, usually showing respect, made by inclining the head or bending forward at the waist; a reverence

Example: He made a polite bow as he entered the room.

To bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference.

Example: That singer always bows towards her audience for some reason.

To debut.

To defer (to something).

Example: I bow to your better judgement in the matter.

To give a direction, indication, or command to by bowing.

The front of a boat or ship.

The rower that sits in the seat closest to the bow of the boat.

A firm branch of a tree.

Example: When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall.

The gallows.