bend
To cause (something) to change its shape into a curve, by physical force, chemical action, or any other means.
Verb 4 meanings
To cause (something) to change its shape into a curve, by physical force, chemical action, or any other means.
“If you bend the pipe too far, it will break.”
To become curved.
“Look at the trees bending in the wind.”
To cause to change direction.
To change direction.
“The road bends to the right.”
Noun 4 meanings
A curve.
“There's a sharp bend in the road ahead.”
Any of the various knots which join the ends of two lines.
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.”
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.
Etymology
From Middle English benden, from Old English bendan (“to bind or bend (a bow), fetter, restrain”), from Proto-West Germanic *bandijan, from Proto-Germanic *bandijaną (“to bend”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰendʰ- (“to bind, tie”).
Similar and opposite words
BEND at a glance
BEND has 4 letters and scores 7 points in Scrabble (B 3 + E 1 + N 1 + D 2) and 9 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #5,665 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with bend
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