1a curve in a road, river, path, or racing circuit:the van screeched round a benda bend in the river
2a curved or angled part of something:make a bend in the wire
3a kind of knot used to join two ropes together, or to tie a rope to another object, e.g. a carrick bend.
4 (the bends) decompression sickness, especially in divers.
ზმნა
Universal
1 [with object] shape or force (something straight) into a curve or angle:the wire has to be bent back tightly
[no object] (of something straight) be shaped or forced into a curve or angle:poppies bending in the wind
[no object, usually with adverbial of direction] (of a road, river, or path) deviate from a straight line in a specified direction:the road bent left and then right
2 [no object] (of a person) incline the body downwards from the vertical:she bent down and yanked out the flexI bent over my plate
[with object] move (a jointed part of the body) to an angled position:extend your left leg and bend your right
3force or be forced to submit: [with object]:they want to bend me to their will [no object]:a refusal to bend to mob rule
[with object] interpret or modify (a rule) to suit someone:we cannot bend the rules, even for Darren
4 [with object] direct (one’s attention or energies) to a task:Eric bent all his efforts to persuading them to donate some blankets [no object]:she bent once more to the task of diverting her guests
5 [with object] Nautical attach (a sail or cable) by means of a knot:sailors were bending sails to the spars
bend someone's ear
informal talk to someone, especially at length or to ask a favour:she regularly bent his ear with her problems
bend one's elbow
North American drink alcohol:not many wives or girlfriends were too interested in watching us bend our elbows
