bow

/ˈbau̇/

Middle English, from Old English būgan; akin to Old High German biogan to bend, Sanskrit bhujati he bends

verb

  1. to cease from competition or resistance : submit, yield; also : to suffer defeat

  2. to bend the head, body, or knee in reverence, submission, or shame

  3. to incline the head or body in salutation or assent or to acknowledge applause

refusing to bow to the inevitable

noun

  1. a bending of the head or body in respect, submission, assent, or salutation; also : a show of respect or submission

noun

  1. something bent into a simple curve or arc

  2. rainbow

  3. a weapon that is used to propel an arrow and that is made of a strip of flexible material (such as wood) with a cord connecting the two ends and holding the strip bent