Definition of bow - Reverso English Dictionary
Noun
1.
fashiondecorative knot with two loops and loose ends
- She tied a bow on the gift box.
2.
respectgesture of respect by bending forward
- He gave a bow to the audience after the performance.
3.
musiccurved stick with horsehair for playing string instruments
- She played the violin with a delicate bow.
4.
archeryweapon for shooting arrows with a curved wood
- He practiced archery with his new bow.
5.
designcurved shape or structure
- The bridge had a graceful bow.
6.
maritimefront part of a ship or boat
- The bow of the ship cut through the waves.
Verb
1.
gestureintr. bend the body forward as a sign of respectintr.
- He bowed deeply to the queen.
2.
submissionintr. yield to pressure or someone's wishesintr.
- He finally bowed to their demands.
3.
shapetr. make something bend or curvetr.
- The strong wind bowed the trees.
4.
curveintr. become bent or curvedintr.
- The tree bowed under the weight of the snow.
5.
musictr./intr. play a stringed instrument using a horsehair sticktr./intr.
- She bowed the violin beautifully.
Images of bow
decorative knot with two loops and loose ends 
gesture of respect by bending forward 
curved stick with horsehair for playing string instruments 
weapon for shooting arrows with a curved wood 
front part of a ship or boat
Expressions with bow
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
lower the head or body as a sign of respect or submission
The subjects would bow down as the king passed..
show respect or submission to someone
He had to bow to the king's decision.
withdraw from a commitment gracefully
He had to bow out of the event due to illness.
bow carried by Cupid in mythology
Cupid's bow was poised to shoot an arrow at unsuspecting lovers..
bow to acknowledge applause after a performance
The actor stepped forward to take a bow.
warning of negative consequences if actions continue
The manager's email was a shot across the bow to the team.
bend or arch the back physically
He bowed his back to lift the heavy box.
to do something because of external demands
The company bowed to pressure and changed its policy.
to yield or give in to pressure
She finally bowed under the weight of her responsibilities and took a break.
sound effect indicating romantic or sexual tension
When they kissed, someone in the background said, 'bow chicka wow wow.'
extra skill or plan that helps in a situation
She added another string to her bow by learning basic coding.
show respect or submission by bending the knee
Many people bow the knee before the king.
accept something you cannot change or avoid
He finally bowed to the inevitable and apologized.
weapon with a bow and arrows for shooting
He used a bow and arrow to hunt.
lower the head as a sign of respect
He bowed his head when the national anthem played.
man's tie tied in a bow shape
He wore a black bow tie to the gala.
stick with horsehair for violin strings
The violin bow needs rehairing regularly.
legs that curve outward at the knees
The cowboy's bow legs were noticeable as he walked..
person who collects bows as a hobby
She is a renowned bow collector with over a hundred pieces..
leading edge of a moving force or trend
The bow wave of innovation swept through the industry.
window that extends outward in a curve
They installed a bow window to add more light.
extra skill or resource for use if needed
She learned coding as another string to her bow.
submit to someone's authority or demands
He refused to bow the knee to the dictator.
collar with a fabric bow at the front
She wore a blouse with a bow collar to the party.
Origin of bow
Old English, boga (arch) + -an (to bend)
Terms with bow included in their meaning
💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
knots
form a knot or bow in something
music
small stringed instrument played with a bow
music lessons
stringed musical instruments played with a bow
target contest
sport of shooting arrows with a bow
music
large string instrument played with a bow
knotting action
act of making a knot or bow
archery
projectile with a shaft, point, and tail shot from a bow
ornament
knot or bow showing love or affection as a symbol
fashion
formal dress code for men with a white bow tie and tailcoat
acr: dinner jacket
formal jacket worn with a bow tie
music
musical instrument played with a bow
boats
small flat-bottomed boat with pointed bow
formal event
relating to formal events requiring a tuxedo and black bow tie
maritime
closest to the bow in nautical terms
decoration
decorative bow or fastening
maritime
change direction by turning the bow through the wind
respectful act
act of showing deep respect, like a bow
astronomy
constellation representing a centaur with a bow and arrow
music
large stringed instrument played with a bow or plucked
fashion
narrow necktie tied in a bow
formal dress code
requiring the most formal evening dress, including a white bow tie
music
part of a violin bow held by the player
ship flags
small flag flown at the bow of a ship
archery
part of a bow from handle to tip
Examples of bow in a sentence
He wore a bow on his tuxedo collar. She made a bow before the queen. The actor's bow was met with applause. The cellist's bow was crafted from fine wood. He replaced the old bow with a new one for better sound. The bow was crafted from fine yew wood.
She displayed the ancient bow in the museum. The roof's bow became visible after the storm. The architect echoed the bow of the doorway in the windows. The crew gathered at the bow for a meeting. He stood at the bow, enjoying the sea breeze. She bowed politely before leaving the room. The actor bowed to the audience after the performance. She refused to bow to societal expectations. The company had to bow to the new regulations. Heat bowed the wooden panel. The gardener bowed the branch toward the ground. The metal rod began to bow from the pressure. Her back bowed slightly as she aged. He learned to bow the cello with precision. The musician bowed the strings with great skill.
View all translations of bow
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:nœud, s'incliner, ...
- German:Schleife, verbeugen, ...
- Italian:fiocco, inchinarsi, ...
- Spanish:lazo, inclinarse, ...
- Portuguese:laço, fazer uma vénia, ...
- Chinese:蝴蝶结, 行礼, ...
- Japanese:リボン, お辞儀をする, ...
- Arabic:عُقْدَة زَخْرَفِيَّة, اِنْحَنَى, ...
- Hebrew:פְּפִיּוֹן, לָקוֹד, ...
- Russian:бант, поклониться, ...
- Ukrainian:бант, вклонятися, ...
- Hindi:बो, झुककर प्रणाम करना, ...
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