bow

A weapon made of a curved piece of wood or other flexible material whose ends are connected by a string, used for shooting arrows.

A curved bend in a rod or planar surface, or in a linear formation such as a river (see oxbow).

A rod with horsehair (or an artificial substitute) stretched between the ends, used for playing various stringed musical instruments.

To play music on (a stringed) instrument using a bow.

"The musician bowed his violin expertly."

To become bent or curved.

"The shelf bowed under the weight of the books."

To make something bend or curve.