bend

Fetched 2026-10-26 (cache).

Datamuse reports no synonyms or antonyms for this word.

Verb

1. {{lb|en|transitive}} To cause (something) to change its shape into a [[curve]], by [[physical]] [[force]], [[chemical]] action, or any other means. <!--accomplishment,achievement-->
2. {{lb|en|intransitive}} To become [[curve]]d. <!--activity,accomplishment-->
3. {{lb|en|transitive}} To cause to change direction.
4. {{lb|en|intransitive}} To change direction. <!--state,activity-->
5. {{lb|en|intransitive}} To be inclined; to direct itself.
6. {{lb|en|intransitive|usually|with "down"}} To [[stoop]].
7. {{lb|en|intransitive}} To [[bow]] in prayer, or in token of submission.
8. {{lb|en|transitive}} To force to [[submit]]. <!--accomplishment,achievement-->
9. {{lb|en|intransitive}} To submit.<!--state?,activity-->
10. {{lb|en|transitive}} To apply to a task or purpose.<!--state?,activity-->
11. {{lb|en|intransitive}} To apply oneself to a task or purpose.<!--state?,activity-->
12. {{lb|en|transitive}} To adapt or interpret to for a purpose or beneficiary.<!--accomplishment-->

Noun

1. A [[curve]].
2. <!-- {{context|nautical|lang=en}} - Why nautical? --> Any of the various [[knot]]s which [[join]] the ends of two [[line]]s.<!-- or the end of a line into some other object; (the latter are called hitch) Note: In naval parlance, a knot involves splicing the strands of a rope.--> <!-- Again, why naval? It was common parlance. Methinks someone has been reading too much Hornblower! -->
3. {{lb|en|in the plural|medicine|underwater diving|with ''the''}} A [[severe]] [[condition]] caused by excessively quick [[decompression]], causing bubbles of [[nitrogen]] to form in the [[blood]]; [[decompression sickness]].
4. {{lb|en|heraldiccharge}} One of the [[honourable]] [[ordinary|ordinaries]] formed by two [[diagonal]] [[line]]s 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]].
5. {{lb|en|obsolete}} Turn; purpose; inclination; ends.
6. In the leather trade, the best quality of [[sole]] [[leather]]; a [[butt]]; sometimes, half a butt cut lengthwise.
7. {{lb|en|mining}} Hard, [[indurated]] [[clay]]; [[bind]].
8. {{lb|en|nautical|in the plural}} The thickest and strongest [[plank]]s in a ship's sides, more generally called [[wale]]s, which have the beams, knees, and futtocks bolted to them.
9. {{lb|en|nautical|in the plural}} The frames or ribs that form the ship's body from the [[keel]] to the top of the sides.
10. {{lb|en|music}} A [[glissando]], or [[glide]] between one [[pitch]] and another, especially one accomplished by bending a string (such as on [[guitar]]).

Proper noun

1. {{place|en|ghost town/and/former railway community|in central|p/British Columbia|c/Canada}}. Named after a 90-degree curve in the railway line.
2. {{place|en|CDP|co/Tehama County|s/California|c/USA}}.
3. {{place|en|ucomm|co/Maries County|s/Missouri|c/USA}}.
4. {{place|en|city/county seat|co/Deschutes County|s/Oregon|c/USA}}.
5. {{place|en|ucomm|co/Meade County|s/South Dakota|c/USA}}.
6. {{place|en|ucomm|co/Lampasas County|and|co/San Saba County|s/Texas|c/USA}}.
7. {{surname|en}}.

Source: Wiktionary · CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wiktionary dump) · cached copy, not a rewrite.