6  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Bend  \Bend\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Bended}  or  {Bent};  p.  pr  & 
  vb  n.  {Bending}.]  [AS.  bendan  to  bend,  fr  bend  a  band, 
  bond,  fr  bindan  to  bind.  See  {Bind},  v.  t.,  and  cf  3d  &  4th 
  {Bend}.] 
  1.  To  strain  or  move  out  of  a  straight  line  to  crook  by 
  straining;  to  make  crooked;  to  curve;  to  make  ready  for 
  use  by  drawing  into  a  curve;  as  to  bend  a  bow;  to  bend 
  the  knee. 
 
  2.  To  turn  toward  some  certain  point;  to  direct;  to  incline. 
  ``Bend  thine  ear  to  supplication.''  --Milton. 
 
  Towards  Coventry  bend  we  our  course.  --Shak. 
 
  Bending  her  eyes  .  .  .  upon  her  parent.  --Sir  W. 
  Scott. 
 
  3.  To  apply  closely  or  with  interest;  to  direct. 
 
  To  bend  his  mind  to  any  public  business.  --Temple. 
 
  But  when  to  mischief  mortals  bend  their  will 
  --Pope. 
 
  4.  To  cause  to  yield;  to  render  submissive;  to  subdue. 
  ``Except  she  bend  her  humor.''  --Shak. 
 
  5.  (Naut.)  To  fasten,  as  one  rope  to  another,  or  as  a  sail  to 
  its  yard  or  stay;  or  as  a  cable  to  the  ring  of  an  anchor. 
  --Totten. 
 
  {To  bend  the  brow},  to  knit  the  brow,  as  in  deep  thought  or 
  in  anger;  to  scowl;  to  frown.  --Camden. 
 
  Syn:  To  lean;  stoop;  deflect;  bow;  yield. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Bend  \Bend\,  n.  [See  {Bend},  v.  t.,  and  cf  {Bent},  n.] 
  1.  A  turn  or  deflection  from  a  straight  line  or  from  the 
  proper  direction  or  normal  position;  a  curve;  a  crook;  as 
  a  slight  bend  of  the  body;  a  bend  in  a  road. 
 
  2.  Turn;  purpose;  inclination;  ends  [Obs.] 
 
  Farewell,  poor  swain;  thou  art  not  for  my  bend. 
  --Fletcher. 
 
  3.  (Naut.)  A  knot  by  which  one  rope  is  fastened  to  another  or 
  to  an  anchor,  spar,  or  post  --Totten. 
 
  4.  (Leather  Trade)  The  best  quality  of  sole  leather;  a  butt. 
  See  {Butt}. 
 
  5.  (Mining)  Hard,  indurated  clay;  bind. 
 
  6.  pl  (Med.)  same  as  {caisson  disease}.  Usually  referred  to 
  as  {the  bends}. 
 
  {Bends  of  a  ship},  the  thickest  and  strongest  planks  in  her 
  sides,  more  generally  called  wales.  They  have  the  beams, 
  knees,  and  foothooks  bolted  to  them  Also  the  frames  or 
  ribs  that  form  the  ship's  body  from  the  keel  to  the  top  of 
  the  sides;  as  the  midship  bend. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Bend  \Bend\,  n.  [AS.  bend.  See  {Band},  and  cf  the  preceding 
  noun.] 
  1.  A  band.  [Obs.]  --Spenser. 
 
  2.  [OF.  bende,  bande,  F.  bande.  See  {Band}.]  (Her.)  One  of 
  the  honorable  ordinaries,  containing  a  third  or  a  fifth 
  part  of  the  field.  It  crosses  the  field  diagonally  from 
  the  dexter  chief  to  the  sinister  base. 
 
  {Bend  sinister}  (Her.),  an  honorable  ordinary  drawn  from  the 
  sinister  chief  to  the  dexter  base. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Bend  \Bend\,  v.  i. 
  1.  To  be  moved  or  strained  out  of  a  straight  line  to  crook 
  or  be  curving;  to  bow. 
 
  The  green  earth's  end  Where  the  bowed  welkin  slow 
  doth  bend.  --Milton. 
 
  2.  To  jut  over  to  overhang. 
 
  There  is  a  cliff,  whose  high  and  bending  head  Looks 
  fearfully  in  the  confined  deep.  --Shak. 
 
  3.  To  be  inclined;  to  be  directed. 
 
  To  whom  our  vows  and  wished  bend.  --Milton. 
 
  4.  To  bow  in  prayer,  or  in  token  of  submission. 
 
  While  each  to  his  great  Father  bends.  --Coleridge. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  bend 
  n  1:  a  circular  segment  of  a  curve:  "a  bend  in  the  road";  "a 
  crook  in  the  path"  [syn:  {crook},  {turn}] 
  2:  movement  that  causes  the  formation  of  a  curve  [syn:  {bending}] 
  3:  curved  segment  [syn:  {curve}] 
  4:  an  angular  shape  made  by  folding  [syn:  {fold},  {crease},  {plication}, 
  {flexure},  {crimp}] 
  5:  diagonal  line  traversing  a  shield  from  the  upper  right 
  corner  to  the  lower  left  [syn:  {bend  dexter}] 
  6:  the  act  of  bending  something  [syn:  {bending},  {flex},  {flexion}, 
  {flection},  {inflection}] 
  v  1:  form  a  curve  [syn:  {flex}]  [ant:  {straighten}] 
  2:  change  direction 
  3:  cause  to  assume  a  crooked  or  angular  form  "bend  the  rod" 
  [syn:  {deform},  {twist}]  [ant:  {unbend}] 
  4:  bend  one's  back  as  in  fear  or  deference;  "he  crouched  down"; 
  "She  bowed  before  the  Queen"  [syn:  {crouch},  {stoop},  {bow}] 
  5:  turn  from  a  straight  course  or  fixed  direction  [syn:  {deflect}, 
  {turn  away}] 
 
  From  U.S.  Gazetteer  (1990)  [gazetteer]: 
 
  Bend,  OR  (city,  FIPS  5800) 
  Location:  44.06605  N,  121.31105  W 
  Population  (1990):  20469  (9004  housing  units) 
  Area:  34.8  sq  km  (land),  0.4  sq  km  (water) 
  Zip  code(s):  97701,  97702 
  Bend,  TX 
  Zip  code(s):  76824 

browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
or search   thesauri dictionary search words