Bow: meaning, definitions and examples

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bow

[ bəʊ ]

^{Context #1}

weapon

A weapon for shooting arrows, typically made of a curved piece of wood whose ends are joined by a taut string.

Synonyms

arch, crossbow, longbow

Examples of usage

He drew his bow and aimed at the target.
She practiced archery with her new bow.

^{Context #2}

knot

A looped knot with two ends, used for tying shoelaces or for decoration.

Synonyms

knot, loop, tie

Examples of usage

She tied her shoelaces with a bow.
The gift was wrapped with a beautiful bow.

^{Context #3}

bend

To bend the upper part of the body forward as a sign of respect or greeting.

Synonyms

curtsey, greet, nod

Examples of usage

He bowed to the audience after his performance.
She bowed her head in acknowledgment.

Translations

Translations of the word "bow" in other languages:

🇵🇹 arco

🇮🇳 धनुष

🇩🇪 Bogen

🇮🇩 busur

🇺🇦 лук

🇵🇱 łuk

🇯🇵 弓 (yumi)

🇫🇷 arc

🇪🇸 arco

🇹🇷 yay

🇰🇷 활 (hwal)

🇸🇦 قوس

🇨🇿 luk

🇸🇰 luk

🇨🇳 弓 (gōng)

🇸🇮 lok

🇮🇸 bogi

🇰🇿 садақ

🇬🇪 ხელი

🇦🇿 yay

🇲🇽 arco

Word origin

The word 'bow' has a long history, dating back to Old English. It originally referred to a bend or curve, which is why it is used to describe the shape of a bow and arrow. Over time, it evolved to also represent the weapon itself, as well as a knot or a gesture of respect. The versatility of the word 'bow' reflects its rich linguistic history and multiple meanings.

See also: bough, bowed, bowgun, bowing, longbow, unbowed.