bend1/bɛnd/USA pronunciationv.,bent/bɛnt/USA pronunciation bend•ing,n. v.
[~]+[object] to force (something) from a straight form into a curved form: could bend steel in his bare hands.
[no object] (of something) to become curved: a bow that bends easily.
to (cause to) lean away from an upright position: [~ + object]bent her head in prayer.[no object]She bent over my desk to take a look at the computer.
to guide (oneself) in a particular direction:[~ + object + to + object]She bent her energies to the task. She bent herself to finishing her homework.[be bent on]was bent on finishing the job.
[no object] to turn or head in a particular direction: The road bent south.
to (cause to) submit or give in: [~ + to + object]I bent to his will.[~ + object + to + object]He bent me to his will.
[~ + object] to make less harsh; relax (restrictions): We were willing to bend the rules to allow her to study English.
the act of bending:The new plan represents a slight bend to the pressures of politics.
something that bends or is bent: At the bend in the road you bear to the right.
Pathologythe bends, [plural* used with a plural verb] a painful condition caused by bubbles of nitrogen gas in the blood:The bends are sometimes a big problem for deep-sea divers.
Idioms
Idioms, Slang Termsaround or round the bend,Informal. insane; crazy:She has driven me right around the bend with her constant phone calls.
Idiomsbend or lean or fall over backward,[no object] to exert oneself as much as possible:The teacher bent over backward in giving you extra time.
Idiomsbend someone's ear, to talk to someone at length:The dean bent my ear for an hour with the same old ideas for new classes.
bend1(bend),USA pronunciationv.,bent or (Archaic) bend•ed; bend•ing,n. v.t.
to force (an object, esp. a long or thin one) from a straight form into a curved or angular one, or from a curved or angular form into some different form:to bend an iron rod into a hoop.
to direct or turn in a particular direction:to bend one's energies to the task.
to cause to submit or yield:to bend someone to one's will.
to modify or relax (restrictions, regulations, etc.) temporarily or in certain circumstances:to bend the rules.
to incline mentally (usually fol. by to or toward):bending his thoughts back toward his childhood.
to pull back the string of (a bow or the like) in preparation for shooting.
Naval Terms[Naut.]to fasten.
[Archaic.]to strain or brace tensely (often fol. by up).
v.i.
to become curved, crooked, or bent:a bow that bends easily.
to assume a bent posture; stoop (often fol. by over):to bend as one walks; to bend over and pick up something.
to turn or incline in a particular direction; be directed:The road bent toward the south.
to yield or submit; give in.
to bow in submission or reverence:bending to one's monarch.
to direct one's energies:We bent to our work as the bell sounded.
bend or lean or fall over backward, to exert oneself to the utmost; make a serious effort:They bent over backward to make sure their guests were comfortable.
n.
the act of bending.
something that bends; curve; crook:a bend in the road; a bend in the curtain rod.
Naval Terms[Naut.]any of various loops or knots for joining the ends of two ropes or the like, or for joining the end of a rope or the like to some other object.
Naval Termsbends, [Naut.]
thick planking immediately below the waterways of a wooden vessel.
the wales of a vessel.
Pathologythe bends, aeroembolism (def. 2).
around or round the bend, [Slang.]insane; crazy:These interruptions will send me round the bend!
bef. 1000; Middle English benden (verb, verbal) Old English bendan to bind, bend (a bow); cognate with Middle High German benden, Old Norse benda; akin to Old Norse band band. See band3
bend′a•ble, adj.
1. curve, crook, flex, bow. 3. mold, subdue, influence. 10.Bend,bow,stoop imply taking a bent posture. Bend and bow are used of the head and upper body; stoop is used of the body only.
bend2(bend),USA pronunciationn.
Heraldry
a diagonal band extending from the dexter chief of an escutcheon to the sinister base. Cf. bend sinister.
in bend, (of a charge) set diagonally or in a diagonal row.
Clothing[Tanning.]half of a trimmed butt or hide. See diag. under hide.
Middle English: coalescence of Old English bend band (see band3) and Middle French bendeband2 bef. 1000