Bow
/baʊ/
Definitions
3 meaningsA weapon consisting of a flexible strip of wood bent into a curve by a tightly drawn string, used to propel arrows.
/baʊ/
A weapon for shooting arrows.
He used a longbow to hunt deer.
💡 Simply: A weapon to shoot arrows.
More Examples
The bow was made of yew wood.
How It's Used
"The archer nocked an arrow to his bow."
An act of bending the head or body as a gesture of greeting, respect, or apology.
/baʊ/
A forward bend of the body.
He bowed his head in prayer.
💡 Simply: A bend of the body as a gesture.
More Examples
She curtsied a deep bow.
How It's Used
"She gave a graceful bow to the audience."
To bend one's head or body as a gesture of greeting, respect, or submission.
/baʊ/
To bend the body forward.
They bowed their heads in prayer.
💡 Simply: To bend down as a gesture.
More Examples
The dancer bowed elegantly.
How It's Used
"He bowed deeply to the elderly lady."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
take a bow
To acknowledge applause after a performance.
"After the concert, the band took a bow."
From Old English *boga, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch boog and German Bogen.
The word 'bow' as a weapon has a long history, dating back to ancient times.
Memory tip
Think of Robin Hood and his trusty bow.
Word Origin
"bent wood"