- (functioning as singular or plural)
a nontechnical name for decompression sickness
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
bends /bɛndz/ pl n the bends ⇒
bend1 /bɛnd/USA pronunciation
v., bent/bɛnt/USA pronunciation bend•ing, n.
v.
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026v.
- [~] + [object] to force (something) from a straight form into a curved form: could bend steel in his bare hands.
- [no object] (of something) to become curved: a bow that bends easily.
- to (cause to) lean away from an upright position: [~ + object]bent her head in prayer.[no object]She bent over my desk to take a look at the computer.
- to guide (oneself) in a particular direction:[~ + object + to + object]She bent her energies to the task. She bent herself to finishing her homework.[be bent on]was bent on finishing the job.
- [no object] to turn or head in a particular direction: The road bent south.
- to (cause to) submit or give in: [~ + to + object]I bent to his will.[~ + object + to + object]He bent me to his will.
- [~ + object] to make less harsh;
relax (restrictions): We were willing to bend the rules to allow her to study English.
n. [countable]
- the act of bending:The new plan represents a slight bend to the pressures of politics.
- something that bends or is bent: At the bend in the road you bear to the right.
- Pathology the bends, [plural* used with a plural verb] a painful condition caused by bubbles of nitrogen gas in the blood:The bends are sometimes a big problem for deep-sea divers.
- Idioms, Slang Termsaround or round the bend, Informal. insane;
crazy:She has driven me right around the bend with her constant phone calls. - Idioms bend or lean or fall over backward, [no object] to exert oneself as much as possible:The teacher bent over backward in giving you extra time.
- Idioms bend someone's ear, to talk to someone at length:The dean bent my ear for an hour with the same old ideas for new classes.
bend1
(bend),USA pronunciation v., bent or (Archaic) bend•ed;
bend•ing, n.
v.t.
v.i.
n.
bend′a•ble, adj.
bend2 (bend),USA pronunciation n.
Bend (bend),USA pronunciation n.
bend•ing, n.
v.t.
- to force (an object, esp. a long or thin one) from a straight form into a curved or angular one, or from a curved or angular form into some different form:to bend an iron rod into a hoop.
- to direct or turn in a particular direction:to bend one's energies to the task.
- to cause to submit or yield:to bend someone to one's will.
- to modify or relax (restrictions, regulations, etc.) temporarily or in certain circumstances:to bend the rules.
- to incline mentally (usually fol. by to or toward):bending his thoughts back toward his childhood.
- to pull back the string of (a bow or the like) in preparation for shooting.
- Naval Terms[Naut.]to fasten.
- [Archaic.]to strain or brace tensely (often fol. by up).
v.i.
- to become curved, crooked, or bent:a bow that bends easily.
- to assume a bent posture;
stoop (often fol. by over):to bend as one walks; to bend over and pick up something. - to turn or incline in a particular direction;
be directed:The road bent toward the south. - to yield or submit;
give in. - to bow in submission or reverence:bending to one's monarch.
- to direct one's energies:We bent to our work as the bell sounded.
- bend or lean or fall over backward, to exert oneself to the utmost;
make a serious effort:They bent over backward to make sure their guests were comfortable.
n.
- the act of bending.
- something that bends;
curve;
crook:a bend in the road; a bend in the curtain rod. - Naval Terms[Naut.]any of various loops or knots for joining the ends of two ropes or the like, or for joining the end of a rope or the like to some other object.
- Naval Terms bends, [Naut.]
- thick planking immediately below the waterways of a wooden vessel.
- the wales of a vessel.
- Pathology the bends, aeroembolism (def. 2).
- around or round the bend, [Slang.]insane;
crazy:These interruptions will send me round the bend!
- bef. 1000; Middle English benden (verb, verbal) Old English bendan to bind, bend (a bow); cognate with Middle High German benden, Old Norse benda; akin to Old Norse band band. See band3
- 1. curve, crook, flex, bow. 3. mold, subdue, influence. 10. Bend, bow, stoop imply taking a bent posture. Bend and bow are used of the head and upper body; stoop is used of the body only.
bend2 (bend),USA pronunciation n.
- Heraldry
- a diagonal band extending from the dexter chief of an escutcheon to the sinister base. Cf. bend sinister.
- in bend, (of a charge) set diagonally or in a diagonal row.
- Clothing[Tanning.]half of a trimmed butt or hide. See diag. under hide.
- Middle English: coalescence of Old English bend band (see band3) and Middle French bende band2 bef. 1000
Bend (bend),USA pronunciation n.
- Place Namesa city in central Oregon. 17,263.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
bend /bɛnd/ vb (bends, bending, bent)
- to turn or cause to turn from a particular direction: the road bends left past the church
- (intransitive; often followed by down, etc) to incline the body; stoop; bow
- to submit or cause to submit: to bend before superior force
- (transitive) to turn or direct (one's eyes, steps, attention, etc)
- (transitive) to attach or fasten, as a sail to a boom or a line to a cleat
- bend over backwards ⇒ informal to make a special effort, esp in order to please
- a curved part, as in a road or river
- a knot or eye in a line for joining it to another or to an object
- the act or state of bending
- round the bend ⇒ Brit slang mad; crazy; eccentric
bend /bɛnd/ n
- an ordinary consisting of a diagonal line traversing a shield
'bends' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
bend
- bendy
- chicane
- cranky
- drift
- flexuous
- handle
- heel
- jackknife
- roadholding
- smooth
- thermostat
- toe and heel
- traffic calming
- unbend
- aeroembolism
- backbend
- bender
- bower
- crinkle
- demi-plié
- flexible
- geländesprung
- geniculate
- jump turn
- limbo
- physical jerks
- quadriceps
- reach
- tortuous
- turning
- undulation
- walking fern
- setting-up exercises
- sinuous