Definition of bow1

bow1noun

cung1

/baʊ//baʊ/

Word OriginOld English būgan ‘bend, stoop’, of Germanic origin; related to German biegen, also to bow2. Bow of a boat/​ship is late Middle English: from Low German boog, Dutch boeg, ‘shoulder or ship's bow’; related to bough.

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the act of bending your head or the upper part of your body forward in order to say hello or goodbye to somebody or to show respect

Example:
  • She gave a slight bow of her head in greeting.
  • The messenger made a formal bow and left the room.
Extra examples:
  • He gave a small bow and left the room.
  • He made a deep bow to the king.
  • He gave her a deep bow.

the front part of a boat or ship

Example:
  • A huge whale crossed our bows.
  • We left two men in the bow to receive the cargo.
  • There's a small boat on the port bow.
Extra examples:
  • The ship's name was printed on her bow.
  • There were huge waves breaking over the bows.
  • They fired a shot across our bow/​bows.

Related words and phrases

Idioms

a shot across the/somebody’s bows
something that you say or do as a warning to somebody about what might happen if they do not change, etc.
take a/your bow
(figurative)to bow to the audience as they are applauding you
  • She came back on stage to take another bow.
  • The song ended and Albert took a bow.
  • The boss takes his final bow today.
  • The team's chairman takes his final bow at this match.