'Bowing' definitions:

Definition of 'bowing'

adjective

Showing an excessively deferential manner [syn: bowed, bowing]

noun

Bending the head or body or knee as a sign of reverence or submission or shame or greeting [syn: bow, bowing, obeisance]

noun

Managing the bow in playing a stringed instrument; "the violinist's bowing was excellent"

From: GCIDE

Bow \Bow\ (bou), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Bowing.] [OE. bowen, bogen, bugen, AS. b[=u]gan (generally v. i.); akin to D. buigen, OHG. biogan, G. biegen, beugen, Icel. boginn bent, beygja to bend, Sw. b["o]ja, Dan. b["o]ie, bugne, Coth. biugan; also to L. fugere to flee, Gr. ?, and Skr. bhuj to bend. [root]88. Cf. Fugitive.] [1913 Webster]
1. To cause to deviate from straightness; to bend; to inflect; to make crooked or curved. [1913 Webster]
We bow things the contrary way, to make them come to their natural straightness. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
The whole nation bowed their necks to the worst kind of tyranny. --Prescott. [1913 Webster]
2. To exercise powerful or controlling influence over; to bend, figuratively; to turn; to incline. [1913 Webster]
Adversities do more bow men's minds to religion. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]
Not to bow and bias their opinions. --Fuller. [1913 Webster]
3. To bend or incline, as the head or body, in token of respect, gratitude, assent, homage, or condescension. [1913 Webster]
They came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him. --2 Kings ii. 15. [1913 Webster]
4. To cause to bend down; to prostrate; to depress,;? to crush; to subdue. [1913 Webster]
Whose heavy hand hath bowed you to the grave. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
5. To express by bowing; as, to bow one's thanks. [1913 Webster]

From: GCIDE

Bow \Bow\ (b[=o]), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Bowing.] To play (music) with a bow. -- v. i. To manage the bow. [1913 Webster]

From: GCIDE

Bowing \Bow"ing\, n. (Mus.)
1. The act or art of managing the bow in playing on stringed instruments. [1913 Webster]
Bowing constitutes a principal part of the art of the violinist, the violist, etc. --J. W. Moore. [1913 Webster]
2. In hatmaking, the act or process of separating and distributing the fur or hair by means of a bow, to prepare it for felting. [1913 Webster]

Bowing a mode of showing respect. Abraham "bowed himself to the people of the land" (Gen. 23:7); so Jacob to Esau (Gen. 33:3); and the brethren of Joseph before him as the governor of the land (Gen. 43:28). Bowing is also frequently mentioned as an act of adoration to idols (Josh. 23:7; 2 Kings 5:18; Judg. 2:19; Isa. 44:15), and to God (Josh. 5:14; Ps. 22:29; 72:9; Micah 6:6; Ps. 95:6; Eph. 3:14).