/bəʊ; bo/
n
1 piece of wood bent into a curve by a tight string joining its ends, used as a weapon for shooting arrows （射箭用的）弓
*hunt with bows and arrows 以弓、箭行猎. =>illus at archer 见archery之插图.
2 wooden rod with strands of horse-hair stretched from end to end, used for playing stringed instruments 琴弓. =>illus at App
1 见附录1之插图, page xi.
3 knot made with loops; ribbon tied in this way 蝴蝶结; 打成蝴蝶结的丝带
*tie shoelaces in a bow 把鞋带打成蝴蝶结
* a dress decorated with bows 饰有蝴蝶结的连衣裙. =>illus 见插图.
4 (idm 习语) have two strings/a second, etc string to one's bow have a second person, skill or resource available to one for a particular purpose, as a replacement for or an alternative to a first 有後备人选、技术或资源; 有两手准备
*As both a novelist and a university lecturer, she has two strings to her bow. 她又是小说家又当大学讲师, 有两手准备.

v [I, Tn] use a bow on (a stringed instrument) 用弓拉（弦乐器）.

/baʊ; bau/
v
1 (a) [I, Ipr, Ip] ~ (down) (to/before sb/sth) bend the head or body as a sign of respect or as a greeting 鞠躬; 点头（表示尊敬或打招呼）
*The cast bowed as the audience applauded. 演员们向鼓掌的观众鞠躬.
* We all bowed to the Queen. 我们都向女王鞠躬致敬.
* The priest bowed down before the altar. 牧师在圣坛前行鞠躬礼.
(b) [Tn] bend (the head or body) as a sign of respect 俯（首）或欠（身）致敬
*The congregation bowed their heads in prayer. 会众在一起低头祷告.
2 [usu passive 通常用于被动语态
*Tn, Tn.p] bend (sb/sth) under or as if under a weight 压弯（某人[某物]）; 像被压弯
*His back was bowed with age. 他因年老而驼背.
* branches bowed down by the snow on them 被积雪压弯的树枝.
3 (idm 习语) ,bow and `scrape (usu derog 通常作贬义) behave in an obsequious or a servile manner 点头哈腰; 奴颜婢膝
*The waiter showed us to our table with much bowing and scraping. 服务员一个劲儿地点头哈腰领我们就座.
4 (phr v) bow sb in/out bow to sb as he enters/leaves a room, etc 躬身迎入[送出]某人. bow out (of sth)
(a) withdraw from sth 退出, 离开某事物
*I'm bowing out of this scheme I don't approve of it. 我退出这个计划--我不同意它.
(b) retire from an important position 从要位上离退
*After thirty years in politics, he is finally bowing out. 他从政三十年之後, 终于决定退出政坛. bow to sth submit to sth; accept sth 顺从某事物; 接受某事物
*bow to the inevitable 顺从命运; 听天由命
* bow to sb's opinion, wishes, greater experience 尊重某人的意见、意愿、丰富的经验
* We're tired of having to bow to authority. 我们对必须服从权威这一点感到厌倦.

n
1 bending of the head or body (as a greeting, etc) 点头致意; 鞠躬礼
*acknowledge sb with a bow 点头招呼某人
* He made a bow and left the room. 他鞠了一个躬就离开了房间.
2 (idm 习语) take a/one's `bow (of an actor or actors) acknowledge applause by bowing (bow2 1a) （指演员）鞠躬谢幕.

/baʊ; bau/
n
1 (often pl 常作复数) front or forward end of a boat or ship 船头; 船首; 艏
*The yacht hit a rock and damaged her bows. 游艇碰上了礁石, 撞坏了船头. =>illus at yacht 见yacht之插图.
2 (in rowing) oarsman nearest the bow （划艇）船头的划桨手. Cf 参看 stroke1