bending

Pluralbendings (some meanings)

1. 1
   verb

   Present participle and gerund of bend. Use this form for an action happening now or for the action treated like a thing.

   She hurt her back while bending to tie her shoes.

   Bending the spoon, he tested how strong it was.

   Note
2. 2
   noununcountable

   A movement that bends or curves something.

   Like the curve a young tree makes when the wind pushes against it.

   A slight bending of the knees helped her keep her balance.

   The bending of the long pole made it easy to carry.

   Similarflexing

   Oppositestraightening

3. 3
   nouncountable or uncountable

   A case of something being changed to fit a need, or twisted out of its usual form.

   The bending of the rules made the other players angry.

   The movie's bending of history left some teachers unhappy.

   Similardistortion, twisting, manipulation

   Note
4. 4
   adjective

   Able to be bent or twisted without breaking.

   Young trees have soft, bending trunks, so strong winds do not snap them.

   A bending pole is safer than a stiff one in strong wind.

   Similarflexible

   Oppositeinflexible, unbending

   Note

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