Sekirov Dictionary

bend

/bɛnd/

verb 15
noun 10
forms 8
phrases 11

verb15

•
to change the shape of something by force, so that part of it turns away from a straight line
- If you bend the pipe too far, it will break.
- Don’t bend your knees.
•
To become curved.
- Look at the trees bending in the wind.
•
To stoop.
- He bent down to pick up the pieces.
•
To bow in prayer, or in token of submission.
- Each to his great Father bends. — 1797
•
To cause to change direction.
- Bend thine ear to supplication. — 1667
•
To change direction.
- The road bends to the right.
•
To adapt or interpret to for a purpose or beneficiary.
- Palladius did not lie, although he might have bent the facts a bit and even passed over in silence whatever might not have benefited his client's cause. — 2011
•
To force to submit.
- They bent me to their will.
•
To submit.
- I am bending to my desire to eat junk food.
•
To apply to a task or purpose.
- He bent the company's resources to gaining market share.
•
To apply oneself to a task or purpose.
- He bent to the goal of gaining market share.
•
To smoothly change the pitch of a note.
- You should bend the G slightly sharp in the next measure.
•
To be inclined; to direct itself.
- to whom our vows and wishes bend — 1634
•
To tie, as in securing a line to a cleat; to shackle a chain to an anchor; make fast.
- Bend the sail to the yard.
To swing the body when rowing.

noun10

•
A curve.
- There's a sharp bend in the road ahead.
•
[in the plural] A severe condition caused by excessively quick decompression, causing bubbles of nitrogen to form in the blood; decompression sickness.
- A diver who stays deep for too long must ascend very slowly in order to prevent the bends.
A glissando, or glide between one pitch and another, especially one accomplished by bending a string (such as on guitar).
•
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. — 2012
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.
•
[in the plural] The frames or ribs that form the ship's body from the keel to the top of the sides.
- the midship bends
[in the plural] 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 the leather trade, the best quality of sole leather; a butt; sometimes, half a butt cut lengthwise.
Hard, indurated clay; bind.
•
(no longer used) Turn; purpose; inclination; ends.
- Farewell, poor swain; thou art not for my bend. — 1608

forms

bended · bent · bentest · ybent · bending · bendeth · bends · bendest

Phrases with bend

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