1. A knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces
   "She tied a perfect bow in her daughter's hair ribbon";
   - bowknot
    
2. A slightly curved piece of resilient wood with taut horsehair strands; used in playing certain stringed instruments
   "The violinist rosined her bow before the performance"
    
3. A weapon for shooting arrows, composed of a curved piece of resilient wood with a taut cord to propel the arrow
   "The archer drew back the bow and aimed at the target"
    
4. Something curved in shape
   "The archer drew back the bow";
   - arc
    
5. A decorative interlacing of ribbons
   "She tied a bow in her daughter's hair"
    
6. A stroke with a curved piece of wood with taut horsehair strands that is used in playing stringed instruments
   "The violinist's bow glided smoothly across the strings"

1. (music) play on a stringed instrument with a bow
   "She bowed the violin with great skill"

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, acquiesce
    
3. Bend the head or the upper part of the body in a gesture of respect or greeting
   "He bowed 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"; "The passengers gathered at the bow[3] to watch the ship enter the harbour";
   - 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. The act of bending the head, body, or knee as a sign of respect, greeting, or submission
   - bowing, obeisance

Sounds like: bough or beau, beaux

Derived forms: bowing, bowed, bows

See also: prostrate, stoop to

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