Bend Word Meaning

Old English bendan ‘put in bonds, tension a bow by means of a string’, of Germanic origin; related to band

shape or force (something straight) into a curve or angle

shape something straight into curve

• the wire has to be bent back tightly

(of a person) incline the body downwards from the vertical

incline body downwards

• she bent down and yanked out the flex
• I bent over my plate

force or be forced to submit

force or be forced to submit

• they want to bend me to their will
• a refusal to bend to mob rule

direct (one's attention or energies) to a task

direct one's attention to task

• Eric bent all his efforts to persuading them to donate some blankets
• she bent once more to the task of diverting her guests

attach (a sail or cable) by means of a knot

attach sail or cable with knot

• sailors were bending sails to the spars

a curve in a road, river, path, or racing circuit

curve in road, river, etc.

• the van screeched round a bend
• a bend in the river

a curved or angled part of something

bent part

• make a bend in the wire

a kind of knot used to join two ropes together, or to tie a rope to another object, e.g. a carrick bend.

kind of knot

decompression sickness, especially in divers.

decompression sickness