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.

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 fol. by in, out, etc.)

They were bowed in by the footman.

to cause to bend; make curved or crooked.

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

bow out, to resign a position or withdraw from a job, competition, obligation, etc.

He bowed out after two terms as governor.

bow and scrape

to be excessively polite or deferential.

make one's bow, to appear publicly for the first time, as a performer, politician

etc.

The young pianist made her bow last night to an appreciative audience.

take a bow, to step forward or stand up in order to receive recognition, applause

etc.

The conductor had the soloists take a bow.

noun

straighten

verb

defend , fight , overpower

noun

angle , arc , arch , bend , bending , bob , curtsy , curvation , curvature , curve , flection , flexure , genuflection , inclination , kowtow * , nod , obeisance , round , salaam , turn , turning , beak , bowsprit , fore , forepart , head , nose , prow , stem , kowtow , crook , cong , courtesy , curtain call , kiss , namaste , salam , salutation , stern

verb

arch , bob , cower , crook , curtsy , curve , debase , dip , do obeisance , droop , duck , genuflect , hunch , incline , nod , round , stoop , accept , acquiesce , bend , be servile , capitulate , cave , comply , defer , give in , knuckle , knuckle under * , kowtow * , relent , succumb , surrender , yield , hump , scrunch , buckle , submit , angle , arc , turn , abase , archer , bent , be obeisant , concede , crescent , cross , crush , fiddle , fold , greeting , inflict , knot , obey , overwhelm , prostrate , rainbow , ribbon , salaam , salute , stem , tie , weapon