bow

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1 1.1.1 Pronunciation 1.1.2 Noun 1.1.2.1 Synonyms 1.1.2.2 Derived terms 1.1.2.3 Translations 1.1.3 Verb 1.1.3.1 Translations 1.2 Etymology 2 1.2.1 Pronunciation 1.2.2 Noun 1.2.2.1 Translations 1.2.3 Verb 1.2.3.1 Derived terms 1.2.3.2 Translations 1.3 Etymology 3 1.3.1 Pronunciation 1.3.2 Noun 1.3.2.1 Synonyms 1.3.2.2 Antonyms 1.3.2.3 Derived terms 1.3.2.4 Translations 1.4 See also

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology 1

From Old English boga, from Proto-Germanic *bugan-. Cognate with Dutch boog, German Bogen, Swedish båge, Danish bög, Norwegian arc.

[edit] Pronunciation

• (RP) enPR: bō, IPA: /bəʊ/, SAMPA: /b@U/
• (US) enPR: bō, IPA: /boʊ/, SAMPA: /boU/

  Rhymes: -əʊ

• Homophones: beau

[edit] Noun

bow (plural bows)

1. A weapon made of a curved piece of wood or other flexible material whose ends are connected by a string, used for shooting arrows.
2. A curved bend in a rod or planar surface, or in a linear formation such as a river (see oxbow).
3. A rod with horsehair (or an artificial substitute) stretched between the ends, used for playing various stringed musical instruments.
4. A stringed instrument, similar to the item described above.
5. A type of knot with two loops, used to tie together two cords such as shoelaces or apron strings, and frequently used as decoration, such as in gift-wrapping.

[edit] Synonyms

• (bow-shaped bend): arc, bend, curve
• (tool for playing stringed instruments): fiddlestick

[edit] Derived terms

• bow and arrow
• bowman
• composite bow
• compound bow
• crossbow
• longbow
• oxbow
• rainbow
• shortbow
• bow tie

[edit] Translations

[edit] Verb

to bow (third-person singular simple present bows, present participle bowing, simple past and past participle bowed)

1. To play music on (a stringed instrument) using a bow.

   The musician bowed his violin expertly.

2. (intransitive) To become bent or curved.

   The shelf bowed under the weight of the books.

3. (transitive) To make something bend or curve.

[edit] Translations

[edit] Etymology 2

From Old English būgan, from Proto-Germanic *beugan. Cognate with Dutch buigen, German biegen.

[edit] Pronunciation

• enPR: bou, IPA: /baʊ/, SAMPA: /baU/

  Rhymes: -aʊ

Homophones: bough

[edit] Noun

bow (plural bows)

1. A gesture, usually showing respect, made by bending forward at the waist.

   He bowed politely as he entered the room.

2. A debut

   The new product will make its bow on the world market this summer.

   • 1832, “Literary Notices”^[1], The Rail-Road Journal, Vol. 1 No. 1, page 123: 

     The first named one, it will be observed, is but a debutant. It makes its bow in a drab-colored Quaker-looking dress, and barring a lively McGrawler-like critique upon " Lewis' Poems," is staid and professorial in its tone.

[edit] Translations

[edit] Verb

to bow (third-person singular simple present bows, present participle bowing, simple past and past participle bowed)

1. (intransitive) To bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference.
2. (transitive and intransitive) To debut.

[edit] Derived terms

bow down bow out bow and scrape

bow to someone's better judgement take a bow

[edit] Translations

[edit] Etymology 3

Low German

[edit] Pronunciation

• enPR: bou, IPA: /baʊ/, SAMPA: /baU/

  Rhymes: -aʊ

Homophones: bough

[edit] Noun

bow (plural bows)

1. (nautical) The front of a boat or ship.

[edit] Synonyms

• (of a ship): prow

[edit] Antonyms

• (of a ship): aft, poop, stern

[edit] Derived terms

• bow shock

[edit] Translations

[edit] See also

• coll'arco
• curtsy
• kowtow
• Wikipedia article on bows (weapons)
• Wikipedia article on bows used to play string instruments
• Wikipedia article on bows (the knots)
• Wikipedia article on musical bows
• Wikipedia article on bows, the gestures of respect
• Wikipedia article on the bows of ships