What is the meaning of bow?

noun

  • A knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces.
  • A slightly curved piece of resilient wood with taut horsehair strands; used in playing certain stringed instruments.
  • Front part of a vessel or aircraft.
    • usage: "he pointed the bow of the boat toward the finish line"
  • A weapon for shooting arrows, composed of a curved piece of resilient wood with a taut cord to propel the arrow.
  • Something curved in shape.
  • Bending the head or body or knee as a sign of reverence or submission or shame or greeting.
  • An appearance by actors or performers at the end of the concert or play in order to acknowledge the applause of the audience.
  • A decorative interlacing of ribbons.
  • A stroke with a curved piece of wood with taut horsehair strands that is used in playing stringed instruments.

verb

  • Bend one's knee or body, or lower one's head.
    • usage: "He bowed before the King"; "She bowed her head in shame"
  • Yield to another's wish or opinion.
    • usage: "The government bowed to the military pressure"
  • Bend the head or the upper part of the body in a gesture of respect or greeting.
    • usage: "He bowed before the King"
  • Bend one's back forward from the waist on down.
    • usage: "he crouched down"; "She bowed before the Queen"; "The young man stooped to pick up the girl's purse"
  • Play on a string instrument with a bow. .
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APAWordNet. (2010). bow. Retrieved September 20, 2026, from http://smartdefine.org/bow/definitions/1190993
ChicagoWordNet. 2010. "bow" http://smartdefine.org/bow/definitions/1190993 (accessed September 20, 2026).
HarvardWordNet 2010, bow, Smart Define, viewed 20 September, 2026, <http://smartdefine.org/bow/definitions/1190993>.
MLAWordNet. "bow" 23 October 2010. Web. 20 September 2026. <http://smartdefine.org/bow/definitions/1190993>
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