- (n.) The bending or rounded part of a ship forward; the stream or prow.
- (v.t.) To bend or incline, as the head or body, in token of respect, gratitude, assent, homage or condescension.
- (v.t.) An arcograph.
- (v.i.) To play (music) with a bow.
- (v.i.) To bend; to curve.
- (v.t.) To cause to deviate from straightness; to bend; to inflect; to make crooked or curved.
- (n.) An inclination of the head or a bending of the body, in token of reverence, respect, civility or submission; an obeisance; as, a bow of deep humility.
- (v.i.) To manage the bow.
- (v.t.) The U-shaped piece which embraces the neck of an ox and fastens it to the yoke.
- (v.t.) To exercise powerful or controlling influence over; to bend, figuratively; to turn; to incline.
- (v.t.) A weapon made of a strip of wood or other elastic material, with a cord connecting the two ends, by means of which an arrow is propelled.
- (v.t.) Any instrument consisting of an elastic rod, with ends connected by a string, employed for giving reciprocating motion to a drill or for preparing and arranging the hair, fur, etc., used by hatters.
- (v.t.) To cause to bend down; to prostrate; to depress,;/ to crush; to subdue.
- (v.t.) Anything bent or in the form of a curve, as the rainbow.
- (n.) One who rows in the forward part of a boat; the bow oar.
- (v.i.) To incline the head in token of salutation, civility or assent; to make bow.
- (v.i.) To stop.
- (v.t.) A rude sort of quadrant formerly used for taking the sun's altitude at sea.
- (v.t.) To express by bowing; as, to bow one's thanks.
- (v.t.) An ornamental knot, with projecting loops, formed by doubling a ribbon or string.
- (v.i.) To bend the head, knee or body, in token of reverence or submission; -- often with down.
- (sing.orpl.) Two pieces of wood which form the arched forward part of a saddletree.
- (v.t.) An appliance consisting of an elastic rod, with a number of horse hairs stretched from end to end of it, used in playing on a stringed instrument.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
| APA | Webster's. (2011). bow. Retrieved September 20, 2026, from http://smartdefine.org/bow/definitions/1981916 |
| Chicago | Webster's. 2011. "bow" http://smartdefine.org/bow/definitions/1981916 (accessed September 20, 2026). |
| Harvard | Webster's 2011, bow, Smart Define, viewed 20 September, 2026, <http://smartdefine.org/bow/definitions/1981916>. |
| MLA | Webster's. "bow" 27 May 2011. Web. 20 September 2026. <http://smartdefine.org/bow/definitions/1981916> |