verb | noun
bendbend1 /bend/ verb (past tense and past participle bent /bent/) 1 
to move part of your body so that it is not straight► bend to move part of your body so that it is not straight, or so that you are not upright: In this exercise you have to bend your knees, but keep your back straight. She bent down to lift the box off the floor. He bent over to pick up the coins.
► bow to bend your head or the top part of your body forward, in order to thank an audience or show respect: He bowed before the king. At the end of the play, the actors bowed to the audience.
► stoop to bend your head and shoulders forward and down, especially to go under something: We had to stoop to go through the low doorway.
► lean to bend your body forward, backward, or to the side: She leaned forward so that she could hear him more clearly.
► duck to lower your head or body very quickly, especially to avoid being seen or hit: She ducked when the ball came toward her.
► curl up to move so that you are sitting or lying with your arms and legs bent close to your body: She curled up in the armchair with a book.
➔ see kneel2 to change direction - used about roads, rivers, or paths► bend if a road, river, or path bends, it changes direction to form a curve: The road bends to the left.
► curve if a road, river, or path curves, it changes direction smoothly over a long distance: The beach gently curves around the bay.
► twist if a road, river, or path twists, it changes direction suddenly many times: The stream twisted through the rocks and trees.
► wind if a road, river, or path winds somewhere, it changes direction smoothly many times over a long distance: The trail winds through the forest.
3 to push or turn something so that it is no longer straight or flat► bend to push or press something so that it is no longer straight or flat: The plumber used a special tool to bend the pipe.
► twist to turn something several times, for example a piece of wire or cloth: He twisted the rag to squeeze the water out of it.
► curl to make something form a curved shape, especially hair: She is curling her hair.
► wind to turn or twist something several times around something else: She started winding the scarf around her neck.
► coil to turn or twist something long and thin so that it looks like many circles on top of each other: Coil the hose again once you have finished watering the plants.
verb | noun
bendbend2 /bend/ noun ► bend a place on a road, river, or path where it turns to go in a different direction: There are a lot of sharp bends on this road, so you have to drive carefully.
► curve a curve is the same as a bend, but it does not change direction as much: The road goes along the base of the hill in a long curve.
► turn a place where roads join so that one of the roads goes in a different direction from the one you are on: Take the second turn on the left.
► twists and turns all the places on a road, river, or path where it suddenly turns to go in a different direction: The path has a lot of twists and turns.
► zigzag a place on a road, river, or path where it suddenly turns one way and then another to make a “Z” shape: The trail goes up the mountainside in a series of zigzags.