bend
1- to force (an object, especially a long or thin one) from a straight form into a curved or angular one, or from a curved or angular form into some different form: to bend an iron rod into a hoop.
- to direct or turn in a particular direction: to bend one's energies to the task.
- to cause to submit or yield: to bend someone to one's will.
- to modify or relax (restrictions, regulations, etc.) temporarily or in certain circumstances: to bend the rules.
- to incline mentally (usually followed by to or toward): bending his thoughts back toward his childhood.
- to pull back the string of (a bow or the like) in preparation for shooting.
- Nautical. to fasten.
- Archaic. to strain or brace tensely (often followed by up).
- to become curved, crooked, or bent: a bow that bends easily.
- to assume a bent posture; stoop (often followed by over): to bend as one walks; to bend over and pick up something.
- to turn or incline in a particular direction; be directed: The road bent toward the south.
- to yield or submit; give in.
- to bow in submission or reverence: bending to one's monarch.
- to direct one's energies: We bent to our work as the bell sounded.
- the act of bending.
- something that bends; curve; crook: a bend in the road; a bend in the curtain rod.
- Nautical. any of various loops or knots for joining the ends of two ropes or the like, or for joining the end of a rope or the like to some other object.
- bends, Nautical.
- thick planking immediately below the waterways of a wooden vessel.
- the wales of a vessel.
- the bends, aeroembolism(def 2).
- around/round the bend, Slang. insane; crazy: These interruptions will send me round the bend!
- bend/lean/fall over backward, to exert oneself to the utmost; make a serious effort: They bent over backward to make sure their guests were comfortable.
Origin of bend
1Synonyms for bend
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comSynonym study
bend
2- Heraldry.
- a diagonal band extending from the dexter chief of an escutcheon to the sinister base.Compare bend sinister.
- in bend,(of a charge) set diagonally or in a diagonal row.
- Tanning. half of a trimmed butt or hide.
Origin of bend
2Bend
- a city in central Oregon.
Related Words for bend
flex, crouch, incline, veer, tilt, buckle, stoop, lean, bow, twist, curl, mold, sway, yield, bending, sag, crook, arc, corner, angleExamples from the Web for bend
Contemporary Examples of bend
And now, similarly, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee: "Bend over and take it like a prisoner!"
Clickbait title notwithstanding, Bend Over and Take It Like a Prisoner!
After acknowledging that there has been a “bend in the curve” and a reason to hope, he warned against inaction.
The city was described by V.S. Naipaul in his 1979 novel A Bend in the River as “a place where the future has come and gone.”
“This is the key way to bend the curve,” Powell told The Daily Beast of the mission abroad in a September interview.
Historical Examples of bend
Everywhere we see the vine, and with every bend we seem nearer the South.
The Roof of FranceMatilda Betham-Edwards
A compact little group of men rounded the bend and approached.
The Leopard WomanStewart Edward White
Here she anchored again, just round a bend of the river, and lay there for the night.
Fair MargaretH. Rider Haggard
He rounded a bend of the road, and came full upon a remarkable vision.
Meadow GrassAlice Brown
It was fair, and so long that when standing up she could tread on it and bend her head forward.
My Double LifeSarah Bernhardt
bend
1- to form or cause to form a curve, as by pushing or pulling
- to turn or cause to turn from a particular directionthe road bends left past the church
- (intr; often foll by down , etc) to incline the body; stoop; bow
- to submit or cause to submitto bend before superior force
- (tr) to turn or direct (one's eyes, steps, attention, etc)
- (tr) to concentrate (the mind); apply oneself closely
- (tr) nautical to attach or fasten, as a sail to a boom or a line to a cleat
- bend over backwards informal to make a special effort, esp in order to pleasehe bends over backwards to accommodate his customers
- bend someone's ear informal to speak at length to an unwilling listener, esp to voice one's troubles
- bend the rules informal to ignore rules or change them to suit one's own convenience
- a curved part, as in a road or river
- nautical a knot or eye in a line for joining it to another or to an object
- the act or state of bending
- round the bend British slang mad; crazy; eccentric
Word Origin for bend
bend
2- heraldry an ordinary consisting of a diagonal line traversing a shield
Word Origin for bend
Word Origin and History for bend
Old English bendan "to bend a bow; confine with a string, fetter," causative of bindan "to bind," from Proto-Germanic base *band- "string, band" (cf. Old Norse benda "to join, strain, strive, bend"), from PIE root *bhendh- "to bind" (cf. Gothic bindan, Old High German bintan, Sanskrit badhnati "binds," Lithuanian bendras "partner;" Old Persian bandaka- "subject").
Modern sense (early 14c.) is via notion of bending a bow to string it. Cognate with band, bind, and bond. Related: Bended; bent; bending.
"a bending or curving," 1590s; "thing of bent shape," c.1600, from bend (v.). Earlier "act of drawing a bow" (mid-15c.). The bends "decompression pain" first attested 1894.
"broad diagonal band in a coat-of-arms, etc.," c.1400, from earlier sense of "thin, flat strap for wrapping round," from Old English bend "fetter, shackle, chain," from PIE *bhendh- (see bend (v.)).
bend
(bĕnd)- To incline the body; stoop.
Idioms and Phrases with bend
bend
In addition to the idioms beginning with bend
- bend one's elbow
- bend over backwards
- bend someone's ear
also see:
- around the bend
- crook (bend) one's elbow
- on bended knee
Also see underbent.