The word bow has several meanings and two pronunciations, depending on meaning:

Rhymes with "low"

• A kind of weapon; see bow (weapon).
• A device used to play a strung musical instrument; see bow (music).
• A musical bow is a kind of simple strung musical instrument, usually plucked.
• An area of London; see Bow, London.
• A town in New Hampshire: see Bow.

Rhymes with "how"

• A lowering of the upper body whilst holding the lower body in its original position. In most cultures, a bow is a sign of respect given by the person bowing to the person bowed before. In some cultures, a whole body language involving bows as an important component has been developed. See bowing (social).
• The front end of a boat or ship.

See also

• Bow Group, the centre-right think-tank in the United Kingdom