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bower
1[ bou-er ]
/ ˈbaʊ ər /
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noun
a leafy shelter or recess; arbor.
a rustic dwelling; cottage.
a lady's boudoir in a medieval castle.
verb (used with object)
to enclose in or as in a bower; embower.
QUIZ
THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?
Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.
Question 1 of 7
In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…
Origin of bower
1First recorded before 900; Middle English bour, bur, bure “dwelling, shelter, bower,” Old English būr “dwelling, shelter, chamber”; cognate with Old Norse būr “pantry, storehouse,” German Bauer “cage, birdcage”; akin to neighbor
OTHER WORDS FROM bower
bow·er·like, adjectiveWords nearby bower
Bowell, bowel movement, Bowen, bowenite, Bowen's reaction series, bower, bowerbird, Bowers, bowery, bowfin, bow front
Other definitions for bower (2 of 4)
Also called bower anchor.
Other definitions for bower (3 of 4)
bower3
[ bou-er ]
/ ˈbaʊ ər /
noun
a person or thing that bows or bends.
Other definitions for bower (4 of 4)
bower4
[ boh-er ]
/ ˈboʊ ər /
noun Music.
a musician, as a violinist, who performs with a bow on a stringed instrument.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use bower in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for bower (1 of 3)
bower1
/ (ˈbaʊə) /
noun
a shady leafy shelter or recess, as in a wood or garden; arbour
literary a lady's bedroom or apartments, esp in a medieval castle; boudoir
literary a country cottage, esp one regarded as charming or picturesque
Derived forms of bower
bowery, adjectiveWord Origin for bower
Old English būr dwelling; related to Old Norse būr pantry, Old High German būr dwelling
British Dictionary definitions for bower (2 of 3)
bower2
/ (ˈbaʊə) /
noun
nautical a vessel's bow anchor
Word Origin for bower
C18: from bow ³ + -er 1
British Dictionary definitions for bower (3 of 3)
bower3
/ (ˈbaʊə) /
noun
a jack in euchre and similar card games
Word Origin for bower
C19: from German Bauer peasant, jack (in cards)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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