Definition of bend - Reverso English Dictionary
Verb
1.
movementtr. change shape into a curve by forcetr.
- He bent the metal rod with his hands.
2.
shapeintr. become curved or form a curveintr.
- The tree branch bent under the weight of the snow.
3.
body movementintr. stoop or incline the body forwardintr.
- She bent down to pick up the coin.
4.
turn asideintr. change directionintr.
- The road bends sharply near the bridge.
5.
turning pathtr. cause something to change directiontr.
- The wind bent the smoke toward us.
6.
controltr. force someone to submittr.
- The dictator bent the people to his will.
7.
adaptationtr. adapt or interpret for a purposetr.
- He bent the rules to suit his needs.
8.
musictr. TECH. smoothly change the pitch of a notetr. TECH.
- The guitarist bent the note for effect.
9.
maritimetr. TECH. tie or fasten in a nautical contexttr. TECH.
- The sailor bent the sail to the boom.
Noun
1.
geometryUK curve or angle in a road or riverUK
- The car slowed down at the bend in the road.
2.
actionthe act or state of bending
- The bend of the branch showed its flexibility.
3.
musicTECH. glide between musical pitchesTECH.
- The guitarist played a smooth bend between notes.
4.
decompression sicknessTECH. US medical condition from quick decompressionTECH. US
- Divers must ascend slowly to avoid the bends.
5.
heraldryTECH. diagonal line on a heraldic shieldTECH.
- The family crest featured a bold bend.
6.
nauticalTECH. frames forming a ship's bodyTECH.
- The bends supported the ship's structure.
7.
knotsTECH. type of knot for joining linesTECH.
- He tied a bend to secure the ropes together.
Images of bend
curve or angle in a road or river 
diagonal line on a heraldic shield 
type of knot for joining lines
Expressions with bend
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lower the body by bending the legs or waist
She had to bend down to pick up the pen.
lower the top part of the body forward and down
She had to bend over to tie her shoelaces.
change rules slightly to help someone or something
The teacher decided to bend rules to help the student.
change a rule slightly to fit a situation
The teacher decided to bend a rule for the student.
listen carefully to someone speaking
Could you bend an ear while I explain what happened at the meeting?
make a great effort to achieve something
She bent over backwards to finish the project on time.
speak at length, pressing someone to notice a matter
He bent my ear about the new policy until midnight.
change rules to suit specific needs
They bent the regulations to allow more participants.
make exceptions or minor adjustments to regulations
He tends to bend the rules to favor his friends in games.
change facts to make something seem different or better
He tried to bend the truth about what happened.
persuade someone to do something they resist
She had to bend his arm to get him to join.
yield to someone's demands or control
He finally bent to her will after hours of arguing.
talk to someone for a long time
He bent my ear about his new project.
mentally unstable or acting irrationally
After the long meeting, he seemed around the bend.
to be flexible but remain strong
In tough times, we must bend but not break.
talk to someone for a long time
He bent my ear about his new project.
become very angry or upset
She got bent out of shape over the rude comment.
make a great effort to help or please someone
She will bend over backward to make her guests feel comfortable.
use the law in a way that is not correct
He tried to bend the law to avoid paying taxes.
compromise your beliefs or values
Don’t bend your principles just to impress a boss.
slightly crazy or very annoyed
He's been acting round the bend since the morning.
make someone do what you want
He tried to bend her will to his own desires.
influence the direction of events or outcomes
Activists work to bend the arc of history toward justice.
kneel down as a sign of respect
The knight bent the knee before the king.
Origin of bend
Old English, bendan (to curve)
Terms with bend included in their meaning
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gesture
bend the body forward as a sign of respect
physical
able to bend easily without breaking
clothing
garment area that covers the bend between thigh and lower leg
exercise stretch
bend down and reach your toes with your hands
hard support
make something less easy to bend or move
hard movement
become less easy to bend or move
travel
gentle bend in a road or path
action
bend something flexible over on itself
fabric
bend or crease in material
road
sudden bend in a road or path
physical action
bend down with knees close to the ground
paper or fabric
bend something so it has two layers
compact
bend something to make it smaller or flat
movement
bend or lay so one part covers another
body posture
bend the upper body forward and down
physical posture
bend deeply at the knees while resting on feet
bend down
bend the body forward and downward
movement
bend your body forward and downward
transportation
bicycle designed to bend into a smaller shape for easy carrying
physical twist
sharp twist or bend in something
bend curve
bend something into a curved or arch shape
shape
make something bend or curve
automotive
steer around a bend while driving
geometry
bend something into a curved shape
Examples of bend in a sentence
The plastic ruler bent under the weight. The metal rod bent when she dropped it. The road bends sharply beyond the bridge. He had to bend to avoid hitting his head on the low ceiling. The yoga instructor asked us to bend forward slowly. The narrow road will bend around the hill ahead.
At this point, the river bends toward the east. Use this tool to bend the pipe around the corner. The lens can bend light toward the sensor. She bent the team to her strategy during the project. The coach bent the players to follow his training regimen. She bent her schedule to accommodate the meeting. They bent the guidelines to fit the project's needs. He learned to bend notes on his harmonica. The musician can bend notes with precision. He bent the rope to the anchor securely. The crew bent the line to the cleat during the storm. There's a sharp bend in the river. Cyclists must be cautious at the bend. A sharp bend in the wire caused it to snap. The pipe has a slight bend near the valve. He executed a perfect bend on his guitar. The song featured a dramatic bend in the solo. The patient was treated for the bends. Bends can be life-threatening if ignored. The knight's shield displayed a silver bend. A red bend adorned the ancient coat of arms. The shipbuilders inspected the bends for damage. The bends were crafted from sturdy oak. The sailor used a bend to join the lines. A bend was necessary to connect the fishing nets.
View all translations of bend
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:plier, virage, ...
- German:biegen, Kurve, ...
- Italian:piegare, curva, ...
- Spanish:doblar, curva, ...
- Portuguese:dobrar, curva, ...
- Chinese:弯曲, 弯道, ...
- Japanese:曲げる, カーブ, ...
- Arabic:ثَنَى, مُنْعَطَف, ...
- Hebrew:לְכוֹפֵף, עִיקּוּל, ...
- Russian:сгибать, изгиб, ...
- Ukrainian:гнути, поворот, ...
- Hindi:मोड़ना, मोड़, ...
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