noun
bowtie
boh-TY
Bowtie (noun) means a necktie tied into a bow shape and worn around the collar. Example: “He wore a red bowtie with his tuxedo.”
noun
1
A necktie tied into a bow shape and worn around the collar.
"He wore a red bowtie with his tuxedo."
"The waiter's uniform included a black bowtie."
"She struggled to tie her own bowtie before the party."
2
chiefly US In the United States, a type of road junction shaped like a bowtie.
"Engineers redesigned the junction as a bowtie to ease the traffic flow."
"The new bowtie intersection replaced a set of traffic lights."
adjective
1
Shaped like the visible part of a tied bowtie.
"The pasta comes in a bowtie shape."
"She chose a bowtie pattern for the tiled floor."
How to use bowtie
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA necktie tied in a bow shape, or anything shaped like one.
When to use it
The road-junction sense is a specialist term mainly used in American traffic engineering.
Memory tip
Picture the tied bow shape itself, since that same shape explains the word's other uses.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
wear a bowtie
a black bowtie
bowtie pasta
a bowtie intersection
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Fill the gap
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He wore a red _____ with his tuxedo.
Etymology
The word joins 'bow' and 'tie', describing a necktie fastened into the shape of a bow.
Rhymes for bowtie
See all rhymes for bowtie →Frequently asked questions
What is a bowtie?
It is a necktie tied into a bow shape and worn around the collar, often with formal wear.
What does bowtie mean in road design?
In the United States it can also refer to a type of road junction shaped like a bowtie.
Can bowtie describe a shape rather than the tie itself?
Yes, it is also used as an adjective for anything shaped like the visible loops of a tied bowtie, such as bowtie pasta.
What is the meaning of bowtie?
"bowtie" (noun) means a necktie tied into a bow shape and worn around the collar.
