bow

bow1 [ bau ] verb *

1. ) intransitive to bend your body forward from the waist, especially to show respect for someone:

Paul rose from his chair, bowed, and left the room.

bow to: Do people still have to bow to the Queen?

2. ) intransitive or transitive to bend your head forward so that you are looking down:

She kneeled and bowed her head.

(with) head/shoulders bowed: Father was walking along slowly, shoulders bowed.

bow and scrape (to someone)

to show too much respect for someone

,bow `down to phrasal verb transitive

bow down to someone to show respect to someone who is more powerful than you

,bow `out phrasal verb intransitive

to give up a job or position, especially when you have had it for a long time:

bow out of: She has no plans to bow out of politics just yet.

`bow to phrasal verb transitive

bow to something/someone to agree to do what someone wants you to do, although you do not want to:

the government's unwillingness to bow to terrorists

Laura did not usually bow to her husband's wishes.

bow to pressure: Bowing to diplomatic pressure, they have signed the agreement.

bow to the inevitable: He finally bowed to the inevitable and resigned.

bow

bow 2 [ bau ] noun count

1. ) a forward movement of the top part of your body, especially to show respect:

give a bow: He smiled, then gave a bow.

2. ) the front part of a ship

take a bow

1. ) to give a bow at the end of a performance, to thank the audience

2. ) MAINLY JOURNALISM used for saying that someone has achieved something special:

The organizers can take a well-deserved bow.

bow

bow 3 [ bou ] noun count

1. ) a weapon made from a long curved piece of wood, used for shooting ARROWS

2. ) a knot that you tie in something such as a piece of string so that there are two circular parts and two loose ends:

tie something in a bow: She had a yellow ribbon in her hair, tied in a bow.

3. ) a long thin object that you use for playing instruments such as the VIOLIN or CELLO