bow
BOH
Bow (noun) means a weapon made from a curved piece of flexible material strung with a cord, used to shoot arrows. Example: “The archer drew back her bow and released the arrow.”
noun
1
A weapon made from a curved piece of flexible material strung with a cord, used to shoot arrows.
"The archer drew back her bow and released the arrow."
"He carried a wooden bow and a quiver of arrows into the forest."
"The museum displays an old bow that was used for hunting."
2
A rod strung with hair, used to play a stringed instrument.
"He rosined his bow before the concert began."
"She tightened the hairs of her bow before playing the violin."
"The cellist drew the bow slowly across the strings."
3
A knot with two loops, often used for decoration or to tie laces.
"She tied the ribbon into a neat bow."
"He tied his shoelaces in a double bow so they would not come undone."
"The gift was wrapped in gold paper with a big red bow on top."
4
The front part of a ship or boat.
"Waves crashed over the bow as the storm picked up."
"The captain stood at the bow and watched for icebergs ahead."
"Spray hit the bow of the little boat as we left the harbour."
verb
1
To bend forward at the waist, or lower the head, as a sign of respect or greeting.
"The performers bowed as the audience applauded."
"Students bow to their teacher at the start of every karate lesson."
"I bowed my head quietly while the speaker finished the prayer."
2
To give in or stop resisting.
"The government eventually bowed to public pressure."
"The shop owner refused to bow to the demands of the angry customer."
"After weeks of arguing, he finally bowed and agreed to our plan."
How to use bow
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDepending on context: a weapon for arrows, a musical rod, a decorative knot, the front of a ship, or the act of bending forward in respect.
Common mistake
Two different pronunciations: "bow" (rhymes with "go") for the weapon/knot/violin-rod, and "bow" (rhymes with "cow") for bending or a ship's front.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
bow and arrow
take a bow
bow to pressure
bow tie
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Word forms
- Plural
- bows
- Third person singular
- bows
- Past tense
- bowed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The archer drew back her _____ and released the arrow.
Etymology
From Old English boga, related to a Germanic root meaning "to bend" — the same root behind German Bogen.
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “bow” mean?
The word “bow” means a weapon made from a curved piece of flexible material strung with a cord, used to shoot arrows. In plain terms, depending on context: a weapon for arrows, a musical rod, a decorative knot, the front of a ship, or the act of bending forward in respect.
How do you pronounce “bow”?
“Bow” is pronounced BOH (/ˈboʊ̯/ in IPA).
How do you use “bow” in a sentence?
Here is “bow” used in a sentence: “The archer drew back her bow and released the arrow.”
What part of speech is “bow”?
Depending on how it is used, “bow” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “bow” come from?
The word “bow” comes from Old English. From Old English boga, related to a Germanic root meaning "to bend" — the same root behind German Bogen.
Is “bow” a common word?
“Bow” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “bow” have?
“Bow” has 6 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a weapon made from a curved piece of flexible material strung with a cord, used to shoot arrows.
What is the difference between a 'bow' and an 'arrow'?
A bow is the curved, strung weapon that launches the projectile, while the arrow is the pointed shaft that the bow shoots. You draw the bow to send the arrow flying, so they work together but are separate objects.
Why does 'bow' the weapon sound different from 'bow' meaning to bend?
"Bow" meaning the archery weapon or the violin rod rhymes with "go," while "bow" meaning to bend forward from the waist rhymes with "cow." They are spelled the same but are different words, so context and pronunciation tell them apart.
What is the difference between a 'bow' and a 'fiddlestick'?
A "bow" is the standard term for the rod strung with hair used to play a stringed instrument, while "fiddlestick" is an old, informal word for the same thing. Today "bow" is standard, and "fiddlestick" survives mainly in the exclamation "fiddlesticks."
Is the 'bow' you tie the same word as the archery 'bow'?
Both are spelled "bow" and rhyme with "go," and the looped ribbon knot is named for its curved shape, similar to the curve of the archer's weapon. Even so, they refer to different things, so context shows whether you mean a weapon, a knot, or a violin bow.
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