bend

1. 1

   To cause (something) to change its shape into a curve, by physical force, chemical action, or any other means.transitive

   • If you bend the pipe too far, it will break.
   • Don’t bend your knees.
2. 2

   To become curved.intransitive

   • Look at the trees bending in the wind.
3. 3

   To cause to change direction.transitive

   • Bend thine ear to supplication.
   • Towards Coventry bend we our course.
4. 4

   To change direction.intransitive

   • The road bends to the right.
5. 5

   To be inclined; to direct itself.intransitive

   • to whom our vows and wishes bend
6. 6

   To stoop.intransitiveusually

   • He bent down to pick up the pieces.
7. 7

   To bow in prayer, or in token of submission.intransitive

   • Each to his great Father bends.
8. 8

   To force to submit.transitive

   • They bent me to their will.
9. 9

   To submit.intransitive

   • I am bending to my desire to eat junk food.
10. 10

    To apply to a task or purpose.transitive

    • He bent the company's resources to gaining market share.

syn. bend · bow · courb · curb · curl · curve · crook · flex · incurvate

ant. straighten · rectify · unbend · uncoil · uncurl · unfold · unroll

1. 1

   A curve.

   • There's a sharp bend in the road ahead.
2. 2

   Any of the various knots which join the ends of two lines.

   • A simpler version of the common bend with its ends in the same direction is used to join binder twine in a hay baling machine.
3. 3

   A severe condition caused by excessively quick decompression, causing bubbles of nitrogen to form in the blood; decompression sickness.in-plural

   • A diver who stays deep for too long must ascend very slowly in order to prevent the bends.
4. 4

   One of the honourable ordinaries formed by two diagonal lines drawn from the dexter chief to the sinister base; it generally occupies a fifth part of the shield if uncharged, but if charged one third.

   • Perhaps the most celebrated coat of arms is that of Scrope, which is Azure a bend Or. This is the coat over which, from 1385 to 1390, Sir Robert le Grosvenor and Sir Richard le Scrope invoked the High Court of Chivalry to decide which of th
5. 5

   Turn; purpose; inclination; ends.obsolete

   • Farewell, poor swain; thou art not for my bend.
6. 6

   In the leather trade, the best quality of sole leather; a butt; sometimes, half a butt cut lengthwise.

7. 7

   Hard, indurated clay; bind.

8. 8

   The thickest and strongest planks in a ship's sides, more generally called wales, which have the beams, knees, and futtocks bolted to them.in-plural

9. 9

   The frames or ribs that form the ship's body from the keel to the top of the sides.in-plural

   • the midship bends
10. 10

    A glissando, or glide between one pitch and another, especially one accomplished by bending a string (such as on guitar).