bow
bow — verb
1. to dip from the waist or lower your face for a moment in greeting, respect, than
to dip from the waist or lower your face for a moment in greeting, respect, thanks, or obedience.
At the temple gate, Hana bowed to the old monk before speaking.
bow to + person
After the final song, the singer bowed while the crowd clapped.
performer thanks an audience
Mr. Silva bowed his head for a moment after the prayer.
Noa bowed slightly and thanked the host for dinner.
- straighten up
moves back to an upright position instead of lowering the body
文法句型
bow to [person/audience]
bow your head
用法筆記
Usually intransitive when you greet someone or thank an audience. The transitive pattern is mainly used with words like head.
常見錯誤
2. to make the strings of a violin, cello, or similar instrument sound by moving a
to make the strings of a violin, cello, or similar instrument sound by moving a bow across them.
Mei bowed the violin slowly during the quiet opening of the piece.
bow + [instrument]
The student could pluck the strings, but still could not bow them evenly.
contrast: pluck vs bow
In the orchestra pit, Ravi bowed his cello with long smooth strokes.
A harsh sound came out when Zoe bowed too close to the bridge.
- pluck
makes the string sound by pulling it with fingers instead of using a bow
文法句型
bow + [string instrument]
用法筆記
Only used for instruments that are played with a separate bow. Distinguish this sense from verb/3, which is about making an object curve.
常見錯誤
3. to become curved, or to make something become curved, instead of staying straigh
to become curved, or to make something become curved, instead of staying straight.
Heavy snow bowed the thin branch over the garden path.
transitive: weight bows [object]
Years of heat had bowed the wooden shelf in the middle.
The plastic ruler bowed when Omar pressed both ends together.
Workers bowed the metal strip to fit the round window.
- straighten
return something to a straight shape
文法句型
[object] bows under weight
bow + [object] into a curve
用法筆記
Most often used for physical things such as wood, branches, or metal under pressure or weight. Distinguish from verb/1, which describes a human gesture.
bow — noun
1. a short dipping movement from the waist or neck used for greeting, respect, or t
a short dipping movement from the waist or neck used for greeting, respect, or thanks.
The prince gave a short bow to the guests before dinner.
give a bow
At the curtain call, each actor took a bow alone.
take a bow
One deep bow from the child made the grandparents smile.
Aiko answered the teacher's praise with a quiet bow.
文法句型
give a bow
take a bow
用法筆記
Often appears in the phrases give a bow and take a bow. Take a bow is especially common for performers at the end of a show.
2. the end of a boat that points ahead as it moves through the water.
the end of a boat that points ahead as it moves through the water.
Spray hit the bow as the fishing boat crossed the rough water.
the bow of a boat
A red flag was tied near the bow of the sailboat.
Two children sat at the bow and watched for dolphins.
The crew painted the company name across the bow.
- stern
the back end of a boat or ship
文法句型
the bow of a ship
用法筆記
This is a nautical word. In everyday speech, many people simply say the front of the boat.
常見錯誤
3. a tied ribbon or lace shape with a loop on each side and loose ends hanging down
a tied ribbon or lace shape with a loop on each side and loose ends hanging down.
Ella tied a neat bow on the gift box with gold ribbon.
tie a bow
One side of the bow came loose as Ben ran to school.
The baby wore a pink bow above one ear.
Marta made a large bow from the extra lace.
文法句型
tie a bow
hair bow
用法筆記
Common for ribbons, shoelaces, and hair decorations. Distinguish from bow tie, which is the name of a piece of clothing.
常見錯誤
4. a curved frame with a stretched cord that sends an arrow forward when released.
a curved frame with a stretched cord that sends an arrow forward when released.
The guide taught Bao how to hold the bow and arrow safely.
bow and arrow
A crack appeared in the old bow after the wet season.
Rina pulled the bow back until the string touched her chin.
The museum showed a hunting bow from northern Japan.
- longbow
a particular tall type of bow, not the general word
- recurve bow
a modern type with curved ends; more specific than the basic sense
文法句型
a bow and arrow
draw a bow
用法筆記
Most often appears in the phrase bow and arrow. This sense belongs to archery and hunting, not to modern firearms.
5. the stick with stretched hair that a violinist, cellist, or similar player moves
the stick with stretched hair that a violinist, cellist, or similar player moves across the strings.
The teacher asked Jun to loosen the bow after the lesson.
loosen the bow
Rosin on the bow helped the strings catch better.
rosin on the bow
A hair came loose from the bow during the concert.
Lena forgot her bow and had to borrow one backstage.
- violin bow
same object when used with a violin
- cello bow
same kind of tool, but made for a cello
文法句型
draw the bow across the strings
tighten / loosen the bow
用法筆記
Used for the tool itself, not for the action of playing. For the playing action, use verb/2.
6. in rowing, the seat at the boat's front.
in rowing, the seat at the boat's front.
After practice, Nadia moved to bow, the front seat of the boat.
bow = front seat in rowing
In practice, the coach put the lightest rower in bow, the front seat.
Sitting in bow, Wen called the rhythm change from the front seat.
In the new boat, bow felt less steady than the seat behind it.
- bow seat
more explicit phrase for the same rowing position
- front seat
informal description, but less exact in rowing
- stern
the opposite end of the boat in rowing language
文法句型
row in bow
用法筆記
Specialist rowing term for the seat at the boat's front. Distinguish from noun/7, which names the rower in that seat.
7. in rowing, the rower who sits in the seat at the boat's front.
in rowing, the rower who sits in the seat at the boat's front.
As bow, Tariq checked both oars before the race began.
as bow = as front rower
The coach chose Ines as bow because she stayed calm in rough water.
Bow, the front rower, must watch the lane line near the finish.
In the photo, bow is the rower lifting one hand at the front.
- bowman
traditional rowing term for the same person
- front rower
plain-language description, but less exact than the sport term
- stroke
the rower at the other end who sets the rhythm
文法句型
serve as bow
用法筆記
Another specialist rowing term. It names the rower, not the seat; for the seat itself, use noun/6.