Bend Definition

bĕnd

bending, bends, bent

verb

bending, bends, bent

To cause to assume a curved or angular shape.

Bend a piece of iron into a horseshoe.

American Heritage

To cause tension in (a bow, etc.), as by drawing with a string.

Webster's New World

To turn or be turned from a straight line or from some direction or position.

Webster's New World

To bring (a bow, for example) into a state of tension by drawing on a string or line.

American Heritage

To force (an object) into a curved or crooked form, or (back) to its original form, by turning, pulling, pressing, etc.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

noun

bends

The act or fact of bending.

American Heritage

A bending or being bent.

Webster's New World

The state of being bent.

American Heritage

A bent or curving part, as of a river.

Webster's New World

Something bent.

A bend in the road.

American Heritage

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Antonyms:
line

idiom

around the bend

Mentally deranged; crazy.

American Heritage

bend (one's) elbow

To drink alcoholic beverages.

American Heritage

bend out of shape

To annoy or anger.

American Heritage

bend

To make an effort greater than is required.

American Heritage

bend (someone's) ear

To talk to at length, usually excessively.

American Heritage

Other Word Forms of Bend

Noun

Singular:

bend

Plural:

bends

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Bend

Origin of Bend

From Middle English benden, from Old English bendan (“to bind or bend (a bow), fetter, restrain”), from Proto-Germanic *bandijaną (“to bend”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰendʰ- (“to bind, tie”). Cognate with Middle High German benden (“to fetter”), Danish bænde (“to bend”), Norwegian bende (“to bend”), Faroese benda (“to bend, inflect”), Icelandic benda (“to bend”). More at band.

From Wiktionary
Middle English from Old English bend band, and from Old French bende, bande band (of Germanic origin bhendh- in Indo-European roots)

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Middle English benden from Old English bendan bhendh- in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition