to bend the head or upper body as a sign of respect or greeting, a weapon for shooting arrows, made of a long, curved piece of wood with a string stretched between its ends, a knot tied with two loops and two loose ends, used to fasten shoelaces and decorate clothing

take a bow, bow out, tie a bow on

Formal and Informal Expressions of bow

In different contexts, you can replace 'bow' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'arc, curve' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'shoot, arrow' is a commonplace synonym.

bow: Explore its Definition & Usage

bow Definition

1to bend the head or upper body as a sign of respect or greeting
2a weapon for shooting arrows, made of a long, curved piece of wood with a string stretched between its ends
3a knot tied with two loops and two loose ends, used to fasten shoelaces and decorate clothing

Using bow: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "bow" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
He bowed to the queen as a sign of respect.
Example
The archer aimed his bow at the target.
Example
She tied her hair back with a bow.
Example
He had a bow and arrow set when he was a child.

bow Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for bow

Phrases with bow

take a bow
to receive applause or recognition for something
Example
After the performance, the actors took a bow on stage.
bow out
to withdraw from a situation or competition
Example
He decided to bow out of the race due to an injury.
tie a bow on
to finish or complete something in a pleasing or decorative way
Example
She tied a bow on the gift box to make it look more festive.

Origins of bow

Old English 'boga', from Proto-Germanic 'bugon', meaning 'to bend'

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Summary: bow in Brief

The term 'bow' [baʊ] can be used as a verb to describe bending the head or upper body as a sign of respect or greeting. It can also be used as a noun to refer to a weapon for shooting arrows or a knot tied with two loops and two loose ends. Phrases like 'take a bow' and 'bow out' are commonly used, while 'tie a bow on' is used to describe finishing something in a pleasing or decorative way.