释义 |
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024bow1 /baʊ/USA pronunciation v. - to bend the knee or body, or to incline the head, so as to show respect or greeting: [no object][bowing as the king and queen walked in.][~ + down]bowed down almost to the ground.[~ + object]bowed his head in prayer.
- to bend or curve downward: [no object]The pines bowed low in the storm.[~ + object]The heavy snow bowed the trees down low.
- to (cause to) give in or yield;
to (cause to) submit: [~ + to + object]You'll have to bow to the inevitable.[~ + object* usually: be + bowed]They were bloody but not bowed (= not defeated completely). - bow out, [no object] to withdraw by choice;
retire:He didn't want to campaign anymore, so he decided to bow out. n. [countable] - a downward movement of the head or body in greeting, thanks, etc.:She made a short bow after the play.
Idioms- Idioms bow and scrape, [no object] to be overly polite:He was always bowing and scraping to the boss.
- Idioms, Show Business take a bow, to step forward or stand up to receive recognition, applause, etc.:Stand up, Helen, and take a bow.
bow2 /boʊ/USA pronunciation n. [countable]- a strong, flexible strip of wood or other material, bent by a string stretched between its ends and used for shooting arrows:hunting with a bow and arrow.
- Sporta bend or curve:She tied the ribbon in a bow.
- Naval Termsa readily loosened knot for joining the ends of a ribbon or string, having two loops:a pretty bright bow in her hair.
- Music and Dancea flexible rod having horsehairs that stretch from end to end, used for playing a musical instrument like a violin:The musicians all raised their bows.
adj. [before a noun] - curved outward at the center;
bent:bow legs. See bowlegged. v. - Music and Danceto perform with a bow on a stringed instrument: [no object]She hadn't learned to bow smoothly yet.[~ + object]She tried to bow her fiddle but always missed.
bow3 /baʊ/USA pronunciation n. [countable]- Nautical, Naval Termsthe front or forward end of a ship or airplane:After the torpedo hit, the bow was crushed in.
adj. [usually: before a noun] - Nautical, Naval Termsof or relating to the bow of a ship:bow riggings.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024bow1 (bou),USA pronunciation v.i. - to bend the knee or body or incline the head, as in reverence, submission, salutation, recognition, or acknowledgment.
- to yield;
submit:to bow to the inevitable. - to bend or curve downward;
stoop:the pines bowed low. v.t. - to bend or incline (the knee, body, or head) in worship, submission, respect, civility, agreement, etc.:He bowed his head to the crowd.
- to cause to submit;
subdue; crush. - to cause to stoop or incline:Age had bowed his head.
- to express by a bow:to bow one's thanks.
- to usher (someone) with a bow (usually fol. by in, out, etc.):They were bowed in by the footman.
- to cause to bend;
make curved or crooked. - Idioms bow and scrape, to be excessively polite or deferential.
- bow out, to resign a position or withdraw from a job, competition, obligation, etc.:He bowed out after two terms as governor.
n. - an inclination of the head or body in salutation, assent, thanks, reverence, respect, submission, etc.
- Idioms make one's bow, to appear publicly for the first time, as a performer, politician, etc.:The young pianist made her bow last night to an appreciative audience.
- take a bow, to step forward or stand up in order to receive recognition, applause, etc.:The conductor had the soloists take a bow.
- bef. 900; Middle English bowen (verb, verbal), Old English būgan; cognate with Dutch buigen; akin to German biegen, Gothic biugan, Old Norse buga, etc.
bowed′ness, n. bow′ing•ly, adv. - 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged See bend 1.
- 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged surrender, accede, defer, acquiesce, comply, capitulate.
bow2 (bō),USA pronunciation n. - a flexible strip of wood or other material, bent by a string stretched between its ends, for shooting arrows:He drew the bow and sent the arrow to its target.
- Buildingan instrument resembling this, used for various purposes, as rotating a drill or spindle, or loosening entangled or matted fibers.
- Sporta bend or curve.
- Sport, Naval TermsAlso called bowknot. a looped knot composed of two or more loops and two ends, as for tying together the ends of a ribbon or string.
- any separate piece of looped, knotted, or shaped gathering of ribbon, cloth, paper, etc., used as a decoration, as on a package, dress, or the like.
- Music and Dancea long rod, originally curved but now nearly straight, with horsehairs stretched from one end to the other, used for playing on a musical instrument of the violin and viol families.
- Music and Dancea single movement of such a device over the strings of a violin, viol, or the like.
- ClothingSee bow tie.
- something curved or arc-shaped.
- a saddlebow.
- an archer;
bowman:He is the best bow in the county. - Ophthalmologytemple2 (def. 3).
- aU-shaped piece for placing under an animal's neck to hold a yoke.
- Buildinga flexible rod used for laying out large curves.
- the part of a key grasped by the fingers.
- Timethe loop on the stem of a watch by which the watch is attached to a chain or the like.
- a rainbow.
adj. - curved outward at the center;
bent:bow legs. v.t., v.i. - to bend into the form of a bow;
curve. - Music and Danceto perform by means of a bow upon a stringed instrument.
- Textilesto loosen by passing a vibrating bow among entangled fibers.
- bef. 1000; Middle English bowe (noun, nominal), Old English boga; cognate with Dutch boog, German Bogen, Old Norse bogi; akin to bow1
bowed′ness, n. bow′less, adj. bow′like′, adj. bow3 (bou),USA pronunciation n. - Aeronautics[Naut., Aeron.]
- , Nautical, Naval Termsthe forward end of a vessel or airship.
- , Nautical, Naval Termseither side of this forward end, esp. with reference to the direction of a distant object:a mooring two points off the port bow.
- Nautical, Naval Terms bows, the exterior of the forward end of a vessel, esp. one in which the hull slopes back on both sides of the stem.
- Naval Termsthe foremost oar in rowing a boat.
- Nautical, Naval TermsAlso called bowman, bow oar. the person who pulls that oar.
- Nautical, Naval Terms bows on, (of a ship) with the bow foremost:The vessel approached us bows on.
- Nautical, Naval Terms bows under, (of a ship) shipping water at the bow:The ship was bows under during most of the storm.
- Nautical, Naval Terms on the bow, within 45° to the heading of the vessel.
adj. - Nautical, Naval Termsof or pertaining to the bow of a ship.
- Low German boog (noun, nominal) or Dutch boeg or Danish bov; see bough
- 1620–30
Bow (bō),USA pronunciation n. - Biographical Clara, 1905–65, U.S. film actress: known as the "It Girl.''
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