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“Bough” or “Bow”

bough / bow are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term.

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Definitions

What each term means

Same sound, different spellings and meanings, shown with a pronunciation guide for each term.

bough b·AW

  • nounany of the larger branches of a tree.

bow b·AW

  • nouna knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces.
  • nouna slightly curved piece of resilient wood with taut horsehair strands; used in playing certain stringed instruments.
  • nounfront part of a vessel or aircraft.
  • nouna weapon for shooting arrows, composed of a curved piece of resilient wood with a taut cord to propel the arrow.
  • nounsomething curved in shape.
  • nounbending the head or body or knee as a sign of reverence or submission or shame or greeting.
  • nounan appearance by actors or performers at the end of the concert or play in order to acknowledge the applause of the audience.
  • nouna decorative interlacing of ribbons.
  • nouna stroke with a curved piece of wood with taut horsehair strands that is used in playing stringed instruments.
  • verbbend one's knee or body, or lower one's head.
  • verbbend the head or the upper part of the body in a gesture of respect or greeting.
  • verbplay on a string instrument with a bow.
Usage

Examples in context

Real sentences for each spelling. Hover an example to copy it.

“bough”

  • …and lifts her onto the bough of a tree.
  • …works such as The Golden Bough by James George Frazer (1890)…
  • …and Sophocles, and Frazer's Golden Bough.
  • …tent hung from a spruce bough.

“bow”

  • …as the technology of the bow and arrow.
  • …plated wrist guards, the reinforced bow, bird bola, heavy ivory net…
  • …of the think tank, the Bow Group and a contributor to…
  • Their bow and stern configuration also had…
  • …the south end of the Bow River Bridge on the edge…
  • …on the shore of the Bow River, on swampy ground, the…
  • …her hull, one in the bow and two on each broadside.
  • …The clip-on tie is a bow tie or four-in-hand tie which…
  • …the turret armor, and the bow and citadel armor were all
  • …slim boats with a pointed bow and stern as well as…

Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license. Definitions are drawn from WordNet.

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