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bow2

Pronunciation: /baʊ/
Translate bow | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of bow

verb

[no object]
  • 1bend the head or upper part of the body as a sign of respect, greeting, or shame:he turned and bowed to his father [with object]:she knelt and bowed her head councillors stood with heads bowed
  • [with object] express (thanks, agreement, or other sentiments) by bending one’s head respectfully:he looked at Hector before bowing grave thanks
  • 2bend with age or under pressure:the roof trusses bowed as the wind fought to rip the roof free [with object]:the creepers were bowed down with flowers
  • submit to pressure or demands:the government has bowed to pressure from farmers to increase compensation
  • 3chiefly North American (of a new film or product) be premiered or launched:the trailer bowed in theaters nationwide on December 23 the Pentium III bowed in early 1999

noun

  • an act of bending the head or upper body as a sign of respect or greeting:the man gave a little bow

Phrases

bow and scrape

behave in an obsequious way to someone in authority: a jailer led them in, the fellow bowing and scraping as he recognized Sir John

make one's bow

make one’s first formal appearance in a particular role:the midfielder only made his England bow nine months ago

take a bow

acknowledge applause after a performance by bowing: the music ended and the girl took a bow figurativefor shrewd transfers the team’s manager must take a well-deserved bow

Phrasal Verbs

bow out

withdraw or retire from an activity or role:many artists are forced to bow out of the profession at a relatively early age

Origin:

Old English būgan 'bend, stoop', of Germanic origin; related to German biegen, also to bow1

Do not confuse bough with bow. Bough means 'a branch of a tree' (boughs laden with blossom), whereas bow means 'bend the head' (he bowed to his father) or 'the front of a ship'.

bow in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of bow in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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