Meaning

• A curve.

  "There's a sharp bend in the road ahead."

• Any of the various knots which join the ends of two lines.

• (in the plural, underwater diving, with the) A severe condition caused by excessively quick decompression, causing bubbles of nitrogen to form in the blood; decompression sickness.

  "A diver who stays deep for too long must ascend very slowly in order to prevent the bends."

• One of the honourable ordinaries formed by two diagonal lines drawn from the dexter chief to the sinister base; it generally occupies a fifth part of the shield if uncharged, but if charged one third.

• Turn; purpose; inclination; ends.

• In the leather trade, the best quality of sole leather; a butt; sometimes, half a butt cut lengthwise.

• Hard, indurated clay; bind.

• (in the plural) The thickest and strongest planks in a ship's sides, more generally called wales, which have the beams, knees, and futtocks bolted to them.

• (in the plural) The frames or ribs that form the ship's body from the keel to the top of the sides.

  "the midship bends"

• A glissando, or glide between one pitch and another.

Meaning

• To cause (something) to change its shape into a curve, by physical force, chemical action, or any other means.

  "Don’t bend your knees."

• To become curved.

  "Look at the trees bending in the wind."

• To cause to change direction.

• To change direction.

  "The road bends to the right"

• To be inclined; to direct itself.

• (usually with "down") To stoop.

  "He bent down to pick up the pieces."

• To bow in prayer, or in token of submission.

• To force to submit.

  "They bent me to their will."

• To submit.

  "I am bending to my desire to eat junk food."

• To apply to a task or purpose.

  "He bent the company's resources to gaining market share."

• To apply oneself to a task or purpose.

  "He bent to the goal of gaining market share."

• To adapt or interpret to for a purpose or beneficiary.

• To tie, as in securing a line to a cleat; to shackle a chain to an anchor; make fast.

  "Bend the sail to the yard."

• To smoothly change the pitch of a note.

  "You should bend the G slightly sharp in the next measure."

• To swing the body when rowing.