Definitions for bows

• Definition
• Anagrams (26)

bows bow

Spelling: [bou]

IPA: /baʊ/

Bows is a 4 letter English word. It's valid Scrabble word worth 8 points. It's valid Words with friends word worth 9 points.

You can make 26 anagrams from letters in bows (bosw).

Definitions for bows

noun

1. an inclination of the head or body in salutation, assent, thanks, reverence, respect, submission, etc.
2. a flexible strip of wood or other material, bent by a string stretched between its ends, for shooting arrows:
3. an instrument resembling this, used for various purposes, as rotating a drill or spindle, or loosening entangled or matted fibers.
4. a bend or curve.
5. Also 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.
6. 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.
7. a 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.
8. a single movement of such a device over the strings of a violin, viol, or the like.
9. bow tie.
10. something curved or arc-shaped.
11. a saddlebow.
12. an archer; bowman:
13. temple2 (def 3).
14. a U -shaped piece for placing under an animal's neck to hold a yoke.
15. Building Trades. a flexible rod used for laying out large curves.
16. the part of a key grasped by the fingers.
17. the loop on the stem of a watch by which the watch is attached to a chain or the like.
18. a rainbow.
19. Nautical, Aeronautics. the forward end of a vessel or airship. either side of this forward end, especially with reference to the direction of a distant object:
20. bows, Nautical. the exterior of the forward end of a vessel, especially one in which the hull slopes back on both sides of the stem.
21. the foremost oar in rowing a boat.
22. Also called bowman, bow oar. the person who pulls that oar.
23. Clara, 1905–65, U.S. film actress: known as the “It Girl.”.

Idioms

1. bow and scrape, to be excessively polite or deferential.
2. make one's bow, to appear publicly for the first time, as a performer, politician, etc.:
3. take a bow, to step forward or stand up in order to receive recognition, applause, etc.:
4. bows on, (of a ship) with the bow foremost:
5. bows under, (of a ship) shipping water at the bow:
6. on the bow, Nautical. within 45° to the heading of the vessel.

adjective

1. curved outward at the center; bent:
2. of or relating to the bow of a ship.

Verb phrases

1. bow out, to resign a position or withdraw from a job, competition, obligation, etc.:

verb (used with object)

1. to bend or incline (the knee, body, or head) in worship, submission, respect, civility, agreement, etc.:
2. to cause to submit; subdue; crush.
3. to cause to stoop or incline:
4. to express by a bow:
5. to usher (someone) with a bow (usually followed by in, out, etc.):
6. to cause to bend; make curved or crooked.

verb (used without object)

1. to bend the knee or body or incline the head, as in reverence, submission, salutation, recognition, or acknowledgment.
2. to yield; submit:
3. to bend or curve downward; stoop:

verb (used with or without object)

1. to bend into the form of a bow; curve.
2. Music. to perform by means of a bow upon a stringed instrument.
3. Textiles Obsolete. to loosen by passing a vibrating bow among entangled fibers.

Origin of bows

before 900; Middle English bowen (v.), Old English būgan; cognate with Dutch buigen; akin to German biegen, Gothic biugan, Old Norse buga, etc.

Examples for bows

Creepy thing to wrap up in festive paper and a bow and give to a newborn baby, yeah?

Well, the only way Dexter could have been tied up in a bow was if the last episode would have been the last episode of Season 4.

It is a Scotch bow, I see, for the upper nock is without and the lower within.

"But they must be sorry folk to bow down to the rich in such a fashion," said big John.

Bop had produced self-conscious artists who refused to bow to conventional assumptions of what was entertaining.

The way it was executed was maybe not satisfying to people, and it was in no way tied up in a bow.

Unlike a normal ship, the bow slopes upward from the water up to the deck.

It was a beautiful cameo of Alcibiades, with the quiver and bow of Eros.

She essayed to introduce Gracie; not one of them attempted a bow.

A grievous error it is to suppose that Cupid's artillery is limited to bow and arrows.