bow

A weapon made of a curved piece of wood or other flexible material whose ends are connected by a string, used for shooting arrows.

A curved bend in a rod or planar surface, or in a linear formation such as a river (see oxbow).

A rod with horsehair (or an artificial substitute) stretched between the ends, used for playing various stringed musical instruments.

A stringed instrument (chordophone), consisting of a stick with a single taut cord stretched between the ends, most often played by plucking.

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.

Anything bent or curved, such as a rainbow.

The U-shaped piece which goes around the neck of an ox and fastens it to the yoke.

Either of the arms of a pair of spectacles, running from the side of the lens to behind the wearer's ear.

Any instrument consisting of an elastic rod, with ends connected by a string, employed for giving reciprocating motion to a drill, or for preparing and arranging hair, fur, etc., used by hatters.

A crude sort of quadrant formerly used for taking the sun's altitude at sea.

(saddlery) Two pieces of wood which form the arched forward part of a saddletree.

The part of a key that is not inserted into the lock and that is used to turn the key.

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

“The musician bowed his violin expertly.”

To become bent or curved.

“The shelf bowed under the weight of the books.”

To make something bend or curve.

To exercise powerful or controlling influence over; to bend, figuratively; to turn; to incline.

To premiere.

“Cronenberg’s "Cosmopolis" bows in Cannes this week.”

A gesture, usually showing respect, made by inclining the head or bending forward at the waist; a reverence

“He made a polite bow as he entered the room.”

To bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference.

“That singer always bows towards her audience for some reason.”

To debut.

To defer (to something).

“I bow to your better judgement in the matter.”

To give a direction, indication, or command to by bowing.

The front of a boat or ship.

The rower that sits in the seat closest to the bow of the boat.

A firm branch of a tree.

“When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall.”

The gallows.