bowing

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
bow1 /bəʊ/

▶noun

• 1 a knot tied with two loops and two loose ends.

• 2 a weapon for shooting arrows, made of a curved piece of wood joined at both ends by a taut string.

• 3 a partially curved rod with horsehair stretched along its length, used for playing some stringed instruments.

• 4 a curved stroke forming part of a letter (e.g. b, p).

• 5 a metal ring forming the handle of a key or pair of scissors.

• 6 N. Amer. a side piece or lens frame of a pair of glasses.

▶verb play (a stringed instrument) using a bow.

– phrases
have (or add) another string to one's bow Brit. have a further resource available.

– origin OE boga ‘bend, bow, arch’, of Gmc origin; rel. to bow2.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
bow2 /baʊ/

▶verb

• 1 bend the head or upper body as a sign of respect, greeting, or shame.

• 2 bend or cause to bend with age or under a heavy weight.

• 3 submit to pressure or demands.

• 4 (bow out) withdraw or retire from something.

▶noun an act of bowing.

– phrases
bow and scrape behave obsequiously.
make one's bow make one's first formal appearance in a particular role.
take a bow acknowledge applause by bowing.

– origin OE būgan ‘bend, stoop’, of Gmc origin; rel. to bow1.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
bow3 /baʊ/ (also bows)

▶noun the front end of a ship.

– phrases
on the bow Nautical within 45° of the point directly ahead.
a shot across the bows a warning statement or gesture.

– origin ME: from Low Ger. boog, Du. boeg, ‘shoulder or ship's bow’; rel. to bough.