Collins English-English Dictionary

bow [baυ]

1. 1. vb to lower (one's head) or bend (one's knee or body) as a sign of respect, greeting, assent, or shame

2. 2. vb to bend or cause to bend; incline downwards

3. 3. vi. [intr; usually foll by to or before] to comply or accept

   bow to the inevitable

4. 4. vt. [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. 5. vt. [tr; usually foll by down] to bring (a person, nation, etc) to a state of submission

6. 6. n a lowering or inclination of the head or body as a mark of respect, greeting, or assent

7. 7. n See also bow out

8. 8. n [Etymology] Old English bugan, related to Old Norse bjugr bent, Old High German biogan to bend, Dutch buigen

bow [bəυ]

1. 1. n 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. 2. n 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

3. 3. n a stroke with such a stick

4. 4. n a decorative interlacing of ribbon or other fabrics, usually having two loops and two loose ends

5. 5. n the knot forming such an interlacing; bowknot

6. 6. n something that is curved, bent, or arched

7. 7. n (in combination)

   rainbow

   oxbow

   saddlebow

8. 8. n a person who uses a bow and arrow; archer

9. 9. n [US] a frame of a pair of spectacles

10. 10. n a sidepiece of the frame of a pair of spectacles that curls round behind the ear

11. 11. n a metal ring forming the handle of a pair of scissors or of a large old-fashioned key

12. 12. n [architect] part of a building curved in the form of a bow - See also bow window

13. 13. vb to form or cause to form a curve or curves

14. 14. vb to make strokes of a bow across (violin strings)

15. 15. vb [Etymology] Old English boga arch, bow; related to Old Norse bogi a bow, Old High German bogo, Old Irish bocc, and bow¹

bow [baυ]

1. 1. n [chiefly nautical] [often plural] the forward end or part of a vessel

2. 2. n (as modifier)

   the bow mooring line

3. 3. n short for bowman

4. 4. n [Etymology] C15: probably from Low German boog; related to Dutch boeg, Danish bov ship's bow, shoulder; see bough