bend
/bentʃ/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A curved or angled part of something: A bend is a place where something is not straight but forms a curve or an angle.
- A physical curve or fold: A bend can be a curve in a road, river, or path, or a fold in a material like cloth.
- A type of heraldic line: In heraldry, a bend is a diagonal band across a shield.
Verb:
- To curve or make something curve: To bend is to change shape from straight to curved or angled.
- To move the body forward or downward: To bend is to lean the body, typically at the waist or knees.
- To change direction: To bend can mean to turn or deviate from a straight path.
- To submit or adapt: To bend can mean to yield or to adapt something to a purpose.
Usage Examples
Noun:
- There is a sharp bend in the road ahead. (The road has a sudden curve.)
- He has a bend in his elbow from the old injury. (His elbow has a permanent curve.)
- The river follows a wide bend through the valley. (The river takes a large, curved path.)
Verb:
- You need to bend the wire to fit it into the hole. (You must curve the wire.)
- She had to bend down to pick up the coin. (She leaned forward from her waist.)
- The light bends as it passes through water. (The light's path changes direction.)
- He refused to bend to their demands. (He refused to yield to their pressure.)
Advanced Usage
- "to bend over backwards": to try extremely hard to help or please someone.
- She bent over backwards to make sure her guests were comfortable.
- "to bend the rules": to interpret or apply rules loosely or flexibly.
- The manager sometimes bends the rules for special circumstances.
- "to be bent on something": to be determined to do something.
- He is bent on finishing the project tonight.
Variants and Related Words
- Bent (adjective): Not straight; curved. Also, having a natural skill or inclination ().
- Bender (noun): A period of excessive drinking; or, a tool or machine for bending something.
- Bendable (adjective): Capable of being bent; flexible.
Synonyms
- Verb: Curve, flex, twist, bow, lean, yield, incline.
- Noun: Curve, turn, crook, arc, angle, fold.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Bend down: To lower the upper body.
- He bent down to tie his shoe.
- Bend to: To submit or yield to something.
- The metal will bend to the force of the machine.
- Bend over: To lean forward at the waist.
- Please bend over and touch your toes.
Related Idioms
- On bended knee: In a humble or pleading manner.
- He asked for her forgiveness on bended knee.
- Around the bend: Crazy or insane (informal).
- All this stress is driving me around the bend.
- Bend someone's ear: To talk to someone for a long time, especially about a problem.
- My neighbor bent my ear for an hour about his plumbing issues.
Noun
- diagonal line traversing a shield from the upper right corner to the lower left
- a town in central Oregon at the eastern foot of the Cascade Range
- an angular or rounded shape made by folding
- a fold in the napkin
- a crease in his trousers
- a plication on her blouse
- a flexure of the colon
- a bend of his elbow
- curved segment (of a road or river or railroad track etc.)
- movement that causes the formation of a curve
- a circular segment of a curve
- a bend in the road
- a crook in the path
Verb
- bend a joint
- flex your wrists
- bend your knees
- turn from a straight course, fixed direction, or line of interest
- bend one's back forward from the waist on down
- he crouched down
- She bowed before the Queen
- The young man stooped to pick up the girl's purse
- cause (a plastic object) to assume a crooked or angular form
- bend the rod
- twist the dough into a braid
- the strong man could turn an iron bar
- change direction
- The road bends
- form a curve
- The stick does not bend