bow


Definition: Meaning of, bow in English to English dictionary.

Pronunciation: / bəʊ /

  • verb
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Word Forms:
Prsesent Past Past Participle
bow bowed bowed
Present Participle Third Person Singular
bowing bows
  1. [intransitive] to bend the top part of your body forward in order to show respect for someone important, or as a way of thanking an AUDIENCE
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  2. bow your head to bend your neck so that you are looking at the ground, especially because you want to show respect for God, or because you are embarrassed or upset
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  3. [intransitive and transitive] to bend your body over something, especially in order to see it more closely
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  4. [intransitive and transitive] to bend or to make something bend
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  5. bow and scrape to show too much respect to someone in authority - used to show disapproval
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  6. [intransitive and transitive] to play a piece of music on a musical instrument with a BOW 3
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  • noun
  • synonym
  • antonym
Word Forms:
Singular Plural
bow bows
[countable]
  1. [countable] the act of bending the top part of your body forward to show respect for someone when you meet them, or as a way of thanking an AUDIENCE
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  2. [countable] also bows [plural] the front part of a ship [↪  stern, yacht]
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  3. a weapon used for shooting ARROW s, made of a long thin piece of wood held in a curve by a tight string
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  4. a knot of cloth or string with a curved part on either side, and two loose ends, worn in the hair as decoration or for tying SHOELACE s
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  5. a long thin piece of wood with a tight string fastened along it, used to play musical instruments such as the VIOLIN or CELLO
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bow used in phrases

  • Bow Bells
    1. the church bells of St Mary-le-Bow in London. It is said that a person born within the sound of (= in a place where you can hear) Bow Bells is a true Cockney
  • Bow Street
    1. a street in London where there is a police court
  • Bow Street runner (noun)
    1. a member of the first police force in London, set up in 1748
  • Cupid's bow (noun)
    1. the double curve of the upper lip when considered to resemble Cupid's bow
    2. a curved bow with reversed curve ends
  • bow and arrow (noun)
    1. a weapon consisting of arrows and the bow to shoot them
  • bow and scrape (verb)
    1. show excessive politeness or servility; be obsequious
  • bow down (verb)
    1. get into a prostrate position, as in submission
    2. bend one's knee or body, or lower one's head
  • bow leg (noun)
    1. outward curvature of the legs
  • bow legs (noun)
    1. legs that curve outwards at the knees
  • bow tie (noun)
    1. a short piece of cloth tied in the shape of a bow that men sometimes wear around their neck
  • More

bow used in phrasal verbs

  • bow down to (phrasal verb)
    1. bow down to someone to show respect to someone who is more powerful than you
  • bow out (phrasal verb)
    1. to give up a job or position, especially when you have had it for a long time
  • bow to (phrasal verb)
    1. bow to something/someone to agree to do what someone wants you to do, although you do not want to
  • bowl out (phrasal verb)
    1. to remove all of one team’s players from play in cricket and so end their turn at hitting the ball
  • bowl over (phrasal verb)
    1. [usually passive] to surprise someone by being very beautiful, impressive, unexpected etc
    2. to knock someone over, because you are hurrying somewhere
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