bend (bends plural & 3rd person present) (bending present participle) (bent past tense & past participle )
1 verb When you bend, you move the top part of your body downwards and forwards. Plants and trees also bend.
I bent over and kissed her cheek... V adv/prep
She bent and picked up a plastic bucket... V
She was bent over the sink washing the dishes. V-ed
2 verb When you bend your head, you move your head forwards and downwards.
Rick appeared, bending his head a little to clear the top of the door. V n
3 verb When you bend a part of your body such as your arm or leg, or when it bends, you change its position so that it is no longer straight.
These cruel devices are designed to stop prisoners bending their legs... V n
As you walk faster, you will find the arms bend naturally and more quickly. V
bent adj
Keep your knees slightly bent.
4 verb If you bend something that is flat or straight, you use force to make it curved or to put an angle in it., (Antonym: straighten)
Bend the bar into a horseshoe... V n prep
She'd cut a jagged hole in the tin, bending a knife in the process. V n, Also V n with adv
bent adj
...a length of bent wire.
5 verb When a road, beam of light, or other long thin thing bends, or when something bends it, it changes direction to form a curve or angle.
The road bent slightly to the right... V
Glass bends light of different colours by different amounts. V n
6 n-count A bend in a road, pipe, or other long thin object is a curve or angle in it.
The crash occurred on a sharp bend.
7 verb If someone bendsto your wishes, they believe or do something different, usually when they do not want to.
Congress has to bend to his will... V to n
Do you think she's likely to bend on her attitude to Europe? V
8 verb If you bend rules or laws, you interpret them in a way that allows you to do something they would not normally allow you to do.
A minority of officers were prepared to bend the rules. V n
9 verb If you bend the truth or bend the facts, you say something that is not exactly true.
Sometimes we bend the truth a little in order to spare them the pain of the real facts. V n
11 If you say that someone is bending over backwardsto be helpful or kind, you are emphasizing that they are trying very hard to be helpful or kind.
bend over backwards phrase V inflects, usu PHR to-inf (emphasis)
People are bending over backwards to please customers.
12 If you say that someone or something drives you round the bend, you mean that you dislike them and they annoy or upset you very much. (BRIT) INFORMAL
drive sb round the bend phrase V inflects (feelings)
And can you make that tea before your fidgeting drives me completely round the bend.
hairpin bend (hairpin bends plural )A hairpin bend or a hairpin is a very sharp bend in a road, where the road turns back in the opposite direction. n-count
