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1. A knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces
   - bowknot
    
2. A slightly curved piece of resilient wood with taut horsehair strands; used in playing certain stringed instruments
    
3. A weapon for shooting arrows, composed of a curved piece of resilient wood with a taut cord to propel the arrow
    
4. Something curved in shape
   - arc
    
5. A decorative interlacing of ribbons
    
6. A stroke with a curved piece of wood with taut horsehair strands that is used in playing stringed instruments

1. (music) play on a stringed instrument with a bow

1. Bend one's knee or body, or lower one's head
   - bow down
    
2. Yield to another's wish or opinion
   - submit, defer, accede, give in
    
3. Bend the head or the upper part of the body in a gesture of respect or greeting
   "He bow[2]ed before the King"
    
4. Bend one's back forward from the waist on down
   - stoop, bend

1. Front part of a vessel or aircraft
   "he pointed the bow of the boat toward the finish line";
   - fore, prow, stem

1. An appearance by actors or performers at the end of the concert or play in order to acknowledge the applause of the audience
   - curtain call
    
2. Bending the head or body or knee as a sign of reverence or submission or shame or greeting
   - bowing, obeisance

Sounds like: bough or beau, beaux

Derived forms: bowing, bows, bowed

See also: bow down

Type of: arm, bend, buckle under, change posture, curve, curved shape, decoration, flex, front, gesticulate, gesture, give in, knot, knuckle under, motion, ornament, ornamentation, play, reverence, stick, stroke, succumb, thanks, weapon, weapon system, yield

Part of: bow and arrow, vessel, watercraft

Encyclopedia: Bow, Oxfordshire