bend1

[bend] /bɛnd/
verb (used with object), bent or (Archaic) bended; bending.
1.
to force (an object, especially 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.
2.
to direct or turn in a particular direction:
to bend one's energies to the task.
3.
to cause to submit or yield:
to bend someone to one's will.
4.
to modify or relax (restrictions, regulations, etc.) temporarily or in certain circumstances:
to bend the rules.
5.
to incline mentally (usually followed by to or toward):
bending his thoughts back toward his childhood.
6.
to pull back the string of (a bow or the like) in preparation for shooting.
7.
Nautical. to fasten.
8.
Archaic. to strain or brace tensely (often followed by up).
verb (used without object), bent or (Archaic) bended; bending.
9.
to become curved, crooked, or bent:
a bow that bends easily.
10.
to assume a bent posture; stoop (often followed by over):
to bend as one walks; to bend over and pick up something.
11.
to turn or incline in a particular direction; be directed:
The road bent toward the south.
12.
to yield or submit; give in.
13.
to bow in submission or reverence:
bending to one's monarch.
14.
to direct one's energies:
We bent to our work as the bell sounded.
noun
15.
the act of bending.
16.
something that bends; curve; crook:
a bend in the road; a bend in the curtain rod.
17.
Nautical. 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.
18.
bends, Nautical.
  1. thick planking immediately below the waterways of a wooden vessel.
  2. the wales of a vessel.
19.
the bends, aeroembolism (def 2).
Idioms
20.
around / round the bend, Slang. insane; crazy:
These interruptions will send me round the bend!
21.
bend / lean / fall over backward, to exert oneself to the utmost; make a serious effort:
They bent over backward to make sure their guests were comfortable.
Origin
before 1000; Middle English benden (v.) 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
Related forms
bendable, adjective
nonbending, adjective
rebendable, adjective
Synonyms
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.
British Dictionary definitions for round the bend

bend1

/bɛnd/
verb bends, bending, bent
1.
to form or cause to form a curve, as by pushing or pulling
2.
to turn or cause to turn from a particular direction: the road bends left past the church
3.
(intransitive; often foll by down, etc) to incline the body; stoop; bow
4.
to submit or cause to submit: to bend before superior force
5.
(transitive) to turn or direct (one's eyes, steps, attention, etc)
6.
(transitive) to concentrate (the mind); apply oneself closely
7.
(transitive) (nautical) to attach or fasten, as a sail to a boom or a line to a cleat
8.
(informal) bend over backwards, to make a special effort, esp in order to please: he bends over backwards to accommodate his customers
9.
(informal) bend someone's ear, to speak at length to an unwilling listener, esp to voice one's troubles
10.
(informal) bend the rules, to ignore rules or change them to suit one's own convenience
noun
11.
a curved part, as in a road or river
12.
(nautical) a knot or eye in a line for joining it to another or to an object
13.
the act or state of bending
14.
(Brit, slang) round the bend, mad; crazy; eccentric
See also bends
Derived Forms
bendable, adjective
Word Origin
Old English bendan; related to Old Norse benda, Middle High German benden; see bind, band³

bend2

/bɛnd/
noun
1.
(heraldry) an ordinary consisting of a diagonal line traversing a shield
Word Origin
Old English bendband²; see bend1
Word Origin and History for round the bend

bend

v.

Old English bendan "to bend a bow; confine with a string, fetter," causative of bindan "to bind," from Proto-Germanic base *band- "string, band" (cf. Old Norse benda "to join, strain, strive, bend"), from PIE root *bhendh- "to bind" (cf. Gothic bindan, Old High German bintan, Sanskrit badhnati "binds," Lithuanian bendras "partner;" Old Persian bandaka- "subject").

Modern sense (early 14c.) is via notion of bending a bow to string it. Cognate with band, bind, and bond. Related: Bended; bent; bending.

n.

"a bending or curving," 1590s; "thing of bent shape," c.1600, from bend (v.). Earlier "act of drawing a bow" (mid-15c.). The bends "decompression pain" first attested 1894.

"broad diagonal band in a coat-of-arms, etc.," c.1400, from earlier sense of "thin, flat strap for wrapping round," from Old English bend "fetter, shackle, chain," from PIE *bhendh- (see bend (v.)).

round the bend in Medicine

bend (běnd)
v. bent (běnt), bend·ing, bends
To incline the body; stoop.

Slang definitions & phrases for round the bend

round the bend

adjective phrase
  1. around the bend (1929+)
  2. stir-crazy (WWII prisoners of war)

bend

noun

bender (1870s+)

verb

To slur a note: They alter pitch and they call it ''bending'' (1940s+ Jazz musicians)

Related Terms

around the bend


Idioms and Phrases with round the bend

round the bend

see: around the bend , def. 2.

bend

also see:
bent
.
Encyclopedia Article for round the bend

Bend

city, seat (1916) of Deschutes county, central Oregon, U.S. It lies along the Deschutes River, in the eastern foothills of the Cascade Range (west), and is bordered by Pilot Butte (east). Laid out in 1904, the community grew after the Deschutes Irrigation and Power Company opened farmland for settlement in 1909. Vast timber resources influenced a railroad boom (1911), sawmills were built, and wood industries developed. Bend is now the headquarters for the Deschutes National Forest and is a centre for tourism because of its proximity to lakes, lava beds, caves, and mountain and ski resorts. Central Oregon Community College was established there in 1949. Newberry National Volcanic Monument, which includes the 6,200-foot- (1,890-metre-) long Lava River Cave, is 12.5 miles (20 km) south of the city. Inc. 1904. Pop. (1990) 20,469; (2000) 52,029.

Learn more about Bend with a free trial on Britannica.com