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bow
noun
A weapon made of a curved piece of wood or other flexible material with a string connecting the ends, used for shooting arrows; a rod with horsehair (or an artificial substitute) stretched between the ends, used for playing various stringed musical instruments; any curved bend or arch shape.
Etymology
Example
"The archer drew her bow and aimed carefully at the target while the violinist rosined his bow nearby."
Usage Notes
Bow has multiple distinct meanings that depend heavily on context. The weapon sense is most common, but its use in music and to describe shapes is prevalent as well. Pronunciation changes with meaning: the weapon/instrument/shape uses /boʊ/, while 'to bow' (bend forward) uses /baʊ/. It's important not to confuse the pronunciations. The register is neutral, suitable for both technical and casual conversation.