1. (

• bow ,
• bow_down

) bend one's knee or body, or lower one's head; "He bowed before the King"; "She bowed her head in shame" ;

2. (

• submit ,
• bow ,
• defer ,
• accede ,
• give_in ,

) yield to another's wish or opinion; "The government bowed to the military pressure" ;

3. (

• bow

) bend the head or the upper part of the body in a gesture of respect or greeting; "He bowed before the King" ;

4. (

• crouch ,
• stoop ,
• bend ,
• bow ,

) bend one's back forward from the waist on down; "he crouched down"; "She bowed before the Queen"; "The young man stooped to pick up the girl's purse" ;

5. (

• bow

) play on a stringed instrument with a bow ;

1. (

• bowed

) of a stringed instrument; sounded by stroking with a bow ;

2. (

• arced ,
• arched ,
• arching ,
• arciform ,
• arcuate ,
• bowed

) forming or resembling an arch; "an arched ceiling" ;

3. (

• bandy ,
• bandy-legged ,
• bowed ,
• bowleg ,
• bowlegged

) have legs that curve outward at the knees ;

4. (

• bowed ,
• bowing

) showing an excessively deferential manner ;