bend1

verb (pastand past participle bent /bent/)

• 1 [with object] shape or force (something straight) into a curve or angle:the rising wind bent the long grass
• [no object] (of something straight) be shaped or forced into a curve or angle:the oar bent as Lance heaved angrily at it
• [no object] (of a road, river, or path) deviate from a straight line in a specified direction; have a sharply curved course:the road bent left and then right the river slowly bends around Davenport

• 2 [no object] (of a person) incline the body downward from the vertical:he bent down and picked her up I bent over my plate [with infinitive]:he bent to tie his shoelaces
• [with object] move (a jointed part of the body) to an angled position:extend your left leg and bend your right Irene bent her head over her work

• 3force or be forced to submit: [with object]:they want to bend me to their will [no object]:a refusal to bend to mob rule
• [with object] interpret or modify (a rule) to suit oneself or somebody else:we cannot bend the rules, even for Darren

• 4 [with object] direct or devote (one’s attention or energies) to a task:Eric bent all his efforts to persuading them to donate some blankets [no object]:she bent once more to the task of diverting the wedding guests

• 5 [with object] Nautical attach (a sail or rope) by means of a knot:sailors were bending sails to the spars

noun

• 1a curve, especially a sharp one, in a road, river, racecourse, or path.

• 2a curved or angled part or form of something:making a bend in the wire

• 3a kind of knot used to join two ropes, or to tie a rope to another object, e.g. a carrick bend.

• 4 (the bends) decompression sickness, especially in divers.