bend

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

• noun Heraldry A band passing from the upper dexter corner of an escutcheon to the lower sinister corner.
• noun Nautical A knot that joins a rope to a rope or another object.
• intransitive verb To cause to assume a curved or angular shape.
• intransitive verb To bring (a bow, for example) into a state of tension by drawing on a string or line.
• intransitive verb To force to assume a different direction or shape, according to one's own purpose.
• intransitive verb To misrepresent; distort.
• intransitive verb To relax or make an exception to.
• intransitive verb To cause to swerve from a straight line; deflect.
• intransitive verb To render submissive; subdue.
• intransitive verb To apply (the mind) closely.
• intransitive verb Nautical To fasten.
• intransitive verb To deviate from a straight line or position.
• intransitive verb To assume a curved, crooked, or angular form or direction.
• intransitive verb To incline the body; stoop.
• intransitive verb To make a concession; yield.
• intransitive verb To apply oneself closely; concentrate.
• noun The act or fact of bending.
• noun The state of being bent.
• noun Something bent.
• noun Nautical The thick planks in a ship's side; wales.
• noun Decompression sickness. Used with the.
• idiom (around the bend) Mentally deranged; crazy.
• idiom (bend (one's) elbow) To drink alcoholic beverages.
• idiom (bend out of shape) To annoy or anger.
• idiom (bend/lean) To make an effort greater than is required.
• idiom (bend (someone's) ear) To talk to at length, usually excessively.

from The Century Dictionary.

• To bring or strain into a state of tension by curvature, as a bow preparatory to launching an arrow.
• Hence Figuratively, to brace up or bring into tension, like a strong bow: generally with up.
• To curve or make crooked; deflect from a normal condition of straightness; flex: as, to bend a stick; to bend the arm.
• To direct to a certain point: as, to bend one's course, way, or steps; to bend one's looks or eyes.
• Figuratively, to apply closely: said of the mind.
• To incline; determine: said of a person or of his disposition: as, to be bent on mischief.
• To cause to bow or yield; subdue; make submissive: as, to bend a man to one's will.
• Nautical, to fasten by means of a bend or knot, as one rope to another, or to an anchor; to shackle, as a chain-cable to an anchor.
• To be or become curved or crooked.
• To incline; lean or turn; be directed: as, the road bends to the west.
• To jut over; overhang.
• To bow or be submissive: as, to bend to fate.
• To spring; bound.
• To drink hard.
• noun An obsolete form of band.
• noun A band or strip used to bind around anything; a strip, whether as a fastening or as an ornament; a fillet, strap, bandage, etc.; specifically, a ribbon or bandeau for the head, used by ladies in the fifteenth century.
• noun A name in the leathertrade for a butt or rounded crop cut in two; the half of a hide of sole-leather that was trimmed and divided before tanning.
• noun In heraldry, one of the nine ordinaries, consisting of a diagonal band drawn from the dexter chief to the sinister base: when charged, it occupies a third of the field; when uncharged, a fifth.
• noun Power; ability: as, that is above my bend.
• noun A segmental plate or ring on which the movable carding-surfaces of a revolving flat cotton-carding machine run and are adjusted in their relation to the main cylinder or drum.
• noun plural Same as caisson-disease.