bow

/baʊ/

Also a noun and a verb

Meaning

  1. An inclination of the head or body in greeting, respect, or gratitude.

    • The pianist gave a modest bow before taking his seat at the grand piano.

  2. The forward part of a ship or boat.

    • Dense ocean spray washed continuously over the bow as the vessel entered rough waters.

Collocations

  • deep bow
  • slight bow
  • respectful bow
  • ship's bow

Synonyms

Antonyms

Idioms

  • shot across the bow

    a warning of impending hostile action

    The initial lawsuit served as a clear shot across the bow to rival firms.

American English. Definitions, examples, and audio are AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Privacy