n. A band; a bond; a fetter; in plural, bands; bonds; confinement.n. A band or clamp of metal or other material used to strengthen or hold together a box or frame.n. Nautical: That part of a rope which is fastened to another or to an anchor.n. A knot by which a rope is fastened to another rope or to something else. The different sorts are distinguished as fisherman's bend, carrick-bend, etc. See cut under carrick-bend.n. One of the small ropes used to confine the clinch of a cable.n. plural The thick planks in a ship's side below the waterways or the gun-deck port-sills. More properly called wales.n. [See etym.] The action of bending, or state of being bent or curved; incurvation; flexure: as, to give a bend to anything; to have a bend of the back.n. An inclination of the body; a bow.n. An inclination of the eye; a turn or glance of the eye.n. Inclination of the mind; disposition; bent. Farewell, poor swain; thou art not for my bendn. A part that is bent; a curve or flexure; a crook; a turn in a road or river, etc.: as, the bend of a bow, or of a range of hills.n. A curved or elbow-shaped pipe used to change direction, as in a drain.n. A spring; a leap; a bound.n. A “pull” of liquor.n. In mining, indurated clay, or any indurated argillaceous substance.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.n. 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.n. 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.n. 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.n. An obsolete form of band.n. Power; ability: as, that is above my bend.n. 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.n. plural Same as caisson-disease.