bowed; bowing; bows
1
2
: to bend the head, body, or knee in reverence, submission, or shame
Bow before the king.
bowed her head in shame
3
: to incline the head or body in salutation or assent or to acknowledge applause
bowing to the audience
4
: debut
the play will bow next month
1
: to cause to incline
wind bowing the treetops
2
: to incline especially in respect or submission
bow their heads in prayer
3
: to crush with a heavy burden
whose heavy hand hath bowed you to the grave Shakespeare
4
a
: to express by bending the head, body, or knee : to express by bowing
bowing his appreciation
b
: to usher in or out with a bow (see bow entry 2)
: a bending of the head or body in respect, submission, assent, or salutation
also
: a show of respect or submission
smiled and gave a bow
1
a
: something bent into a simple curve or arc
b
: rainbow
2
: a weapon that is used to propel an arrow and that is made of a strip of flexible material (such as wood) with a cord connecting the two ends and holding the strip bent
hunting with bow and arrow
3
: archer
4
a
: a metal ring or loop forming a handle (as of a key)
b
: a knot formed by doubling a ribbon or string into two or more loops
c
d
: a frame for the lenses of eyeglasses
also
: the sidepiece of the frame passing over the ear
5
music
a
: a wooden rod with horsehairs stretched from end to end used in playing an instrument of the viol or violin family
b
: a stroke of such a bow
on the up bow
bowed; bowing; bows
1
: to bend into a curve
the wall bows a little
2
music
: to play a stringed instrument with a bow (see bow entry 3 sense 5a)
1
: to cause to bend into a curve
Years of riding had bowed his legs.
2
music
: to play (a stringed instrument) with a bow
bowing the strings
1
nautical
: the forward part of a ship
—often used in plural
crossing the bows
2
nautical
: bowman entry 2
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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