bow1 /baq/ noun
1 act of bowing
ADJ. deep, low | little, slight | formal, stiff
VERB + BOW give, make He gave a formal bow and left the room. | take (= used about a performer) The song ended and Albert took a bow. (figurative) The team's chairman takes his final bow at this match (= is retiring after this match).
PREP. ~ to He made a deep bow to the king.
2 front part of a ship
ADJ. port, starboard There's a small boat on the port bow.
VERB + BOW cross A huge whale crossed our bows.
PREP. across the ~ They fired a shot across our bows. | in the ~ We left two men in the bows to receive the cargo. | off the ~ 100 yards off our bows | on the ~ The ship's name was printed on her bow. | over the ~ There were huge waves breaking over the bows.
bow2 /baq/ verb
ADV. deeply, low He swept off his hat and bowed deeply to the Queen. | slightly | politely, respectfully | down
PREP. before The Emperor's subjects bowed down before him. | to The pianist stood up and bowed to the audience.
You can also check other dicts: bow (English, 中文解释 ), wordnet sense, Collins Definition