bowing

[ boh-ing ]

/ ˈboʊ ɪŋ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR bowing ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act or art of playing a stringed instrument with a bow.

the individual way of using the bow in playing a stringed instrument, including the way in which the musician approaches the music emotionally, the articulation of individual notes, and the manner in which the notes of a passage are grouped together.

Nearby words

bowhead, bowhunting, bowie, bowie knife, bowie state, bowing, bowknot, bowl, bowl game, bowl of cherries, life is just a, bowl over

Origin of bowing

First recorded in 1830–40; bow² + -ing¹

Related forms

un·bow·ing, adjective

Definition for bowing (2 of 3)

bow

[ bou ]

/ baʊ /

verb (used without object)

to bend the knee or body or incline the head, as in reverence, submission, salutation, recognition, or acknowledgment.

to yield; submit: to bow to the inevitable.

to bend or curve downward; stoop: the pines bowed low.

verb (used with object)

to bend or incline (the knee, body, or head) in worship, submission, respect, civility, agreement, etc.: He bowed his head to the crowd.

to cause to submit; subdue; crush.

to cause to stoop or incline: Age had bowed his head.

to express by a bow: to bow one's thanks.

to usher (someone) with a bow (usually followed by in, out, etc.): They were bowed in by the footman.

to cause to bend; make curved or crooked.

noun

an inclination of the head or body in salutation, assent, thanks, reverence, respect, submission, etc.

Verb Phrases

bow out, to resign a position or withdraw from a job, competition, obligation, etc.: He bowed out after two terms as governor.

Origin of bow

before 900; Middle English bowen (v.), Old English būgan; cognate with Dutch buigen; akin to German biegen, Gothic biugan, Old Norse buga, etc.

SYNONYMS FOR bow

2 surrender, accede, defer, acquiesce, comply, capitulate.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR bow ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

bowed·ness, nounbow·ing·ly, adverb

Can be confused

bough bow

Synonym study

1. See bend¹.

Definition for bowing (3 of 3)

bow

[ boh ]

/ boʊ /

noun

a flexible strip of wood or other material, bent by a string stretched between its ends, for shooting arrows: He drew the bow and sent the arrow to its target.

an instrument resembling this, used for various purposes, as rotating a drill or spindle, or loosening entangled or matted fibers.

a bend or curve.

Also called bowknot. a looped knot composed of two or more loops and two ends, as for tying together the ends of a ribbon or string.

any separate piece of looped, knotted, or shaped gathering of ribbon, cloth, paper, etc., used as a decoration, as on a package, dress, or the like.

a long rod, originally curved but now nearly straight, with horsehairs stretched from one end to the other, used for playing on a musical instrument of the violin and viol families.

a single movement of such a device over the strings of a violin, viol, or the like.

bow tie.

something curved or arc-shaped.

a saddlebow.

an archer; bowman: He is the best bow in the county.

temple²(def 3).

a U-shaped piece for placing under an animal's neck to hold a yoke.

Building Trades. a flexible rod used for laying out large curves.

the part of a key grasped by the fingers.

the loop on the stem of a watch by which the watch is attached to a chain or the like.

a rainbow.

adjective

curved outward at the center; bent: bow legs.

verb (used with or without object)

to bend into the form of a bow; curve.

Music. to perform by means of a bow upon a stringed instrument.

Textiles Obsolete. to loosen by passing a vibrating bow among entangled fibers.

Origin of bow

before 1000; Middle English bowe (noun), Old English boga; cognate with Dutch boog, German Bogen, Old Norse bogi; akin to bow¹

Related forms

bowed·ness, nounbow·less, adjectivebow·like, adjective

Can be confused

bode bowed

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for bowing

Whispering to himself and bowing, he touches his forehead to the ground.
Heart of Darkness: Into Afghanistan’s Taliban Valley|Matt Trevithick, Daniel Seckman|November 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
U.S. negotiators specifically stated they were not bowing in any way or form to Iranian rights in this matter.
Obama Wins Round One on Iran|Leslie H. Gelb|December 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST
And he started off the talk by bowing to the crowd and asking for their prayers.
A Prominent Jesuit Talks About the Order’s First Pope|Abby Haglage|March 14, 2013|DAILY BEAST
One might generously say that Simpson and Bowles are just bowing to the extant political reality.
Simpson-Bowles Rebaked|Michael Tomasky|February 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST

I would argue that, on the contrary, it is a good thing that Barak is bowing out.
Good Riddance, Ehud Barak|Daniel Gavron|November 28, 2012|DAILY BEAST
I heard that this lady' (bowing to the Countess) 'was his daughter.'
Evan Harrington, Complete|George Meredith
"Come with me, madam," said Norris, bowing and taking her hand.
Windsor Castle|William Harrison Ainsworth
Then Simon was bowing before the contessa, acutely aware of Sophia standing beside her.
The Saracen: Land of the Infidel|Robert Shea
"At sunrise," echoed Enrique, bowing with affected courtesy, till the streamers from his hat touched the ground.
Roland Cashel|Charles James Lever
He turned to us and motioned us as though to ownership, bowing with grave courtesy as he himself left the room.
The Way of a Man|Emerson Hough

British Dictionary definitions for bowing (1 of 5)

bowing

/ (ˈbəʊɪŋ) /

noun

the technique of using the bow in playing a violin, viola, cello, or related instrument

British Dictionary definitions for bowing (2 of 5)

bow

/ (baʊ) /

verb

to lower (one's head) or bend (one's knee or body) as a sign of respect, greeting, assent, or shame

to bend or cause to bend; incline downwards

(intr ; usually foll by to or before) to comply or acceptbow to the inevitable

(tr ; foll by in, out, to etc) to usher (someone) into or out of a place with bows and deferencethe manager bowed us to our car

(tr; usually foll by down) to bring (a person, nation, etc) to a state of submission

bow and scrape to behave in an excessively deferential or obsequious way

noun

a lowering or inclination of the head or body as a mark of respect, greeting, or assent

take a bow to acknowledge or receive applause or praise

Word Origin for bow

Old English būgan, related to Old Norse bjūgr bent, Old High German biogan to bend, Dutch buigen

British Dictionary definitions for bowing (3 of 5)

bow

/ (bəʊ) /

noun

a weapon for shooting arrows, consisting of an arch of flexible wood, plastic, metal, etc bent by a string (bowstring) fastened at each endSee also crossbow

a long slightly curved stick across which are stretched strands of horsehair, used for playing the strings of a violin, viola, cello, or related instrument
a stroke with such a stick

a decorative interlacing of ribbon or other fabrics, usually having two loops and two loose ends
the knot forming such an interlacing; bowknot

something that is curved, bent, or arched
(in combination)rainbow; oxbow; saddlebow

a person who uses a bow and arrow; archer

a frame of a pair of spectacles
a sidepiece of the frame of a pair of spectacles that curls round behind the ear

a metal ring forming the handle of a pair of scissors or of a large old-fashioned key

architect part of a building curved in the form of a bowSee also bow window

verb

to form or cause to form a curve or curves

to make strokes of a bow across (violin strings)

Word Origin for bow

Old English boga arch, bow; related to Old Norse bogi a bow, Old High German bogo, Old Irish bocc, and bow 1

British Dictionary definitions for bowing (4 of 5)

bow

/ (baʊ) /

noun

mainly nautical

(often plural) the forward end or part of a vessel
(as modifier)the bow mooring line

rowing short for bowman 2

on the port bow nautical within 45 degrees to the port of straight ahead

on the starboard bow nautical within 45 degrees to the starboard of straight ahead

a shot across someone's bows informal a warning

Word Origin for bow

C15: probably from Low German boog; related to Dutch boeg, Danish bov ship's bow, shoulder; see bough

British Dictionary definitions for bowing (5 of 5)

Bow

/ (bəʊ) /

noun

Clara, known as the It Girl . 1905–65, US film actress, noted for her vivacity and sex appeal

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with bowing

bow

In addition to the idioms beginning with bow

bow and scrape
bowl of cherries, life is just a
bowl over
bow out

also see:

take a bow
two strings to one's bow

bowing

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of bowing

Related forms

Definition for bowing (2 of 3)

bow

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

Verb Phrases

Origin of bow

SYNONYMS FOR bow

Related forms

Can be confused

Synonym study

Definition for bowing (3 of 3)

bow

noun

adjective

verb (used with or without object)

Origin of bow

Related forms

Can be confused

Examples from the Web for bowing

British Dictionary definitions for bowing (1 of 5)

bowing

noun

British Dictionary definitions for bowing (2 of 5)

bow

verb

noun

Word Origin for bow

British Dictionary definitions for bowing (3 of 5)

bow

noun

verb

Word Origin for bow

British Dictionary definitions for bowing (4 of 5)

bow

noun

Word Origin for bow

British Dictionary definitions for bowing (5 of 5)

Bow

noun

Idioms and Phrases with bowing

bow