- bent
- [[t]be̱nt[/t]]
1) Bent is the past tense and past participle of bend.2) ADJ-GRADED If an object is bent, it is damaged and no longer has its correct shape.
The trees were all bent and twisted from the wind.
3) ADJ-GRADED If a person is bent, their body has become curved because of old age or disease. [WRITTEN]...a bent, frail, old man.
Syn:4) ADJ-GRADED: v-link ADJ on/upon n/-ing (disapproval) If someone is bent on doing something, especially something harmful, they are determined to do it.He's bent on suicide.
5) N-SING: with supp, oft N for n If you have a bent for something, you have a natural ability to do it or a natural interest in it.His bent for natural history directed him towards his first job.
Syn:6) N-SING: adj N If someone is of a particular bent, they hold a particular set of beliefs....economists of a socialist bent.
Syn:7) ADJ-GRADED If you say that someone in a position of responsibility is bent, you mean that they are dishonest or do illegal things. [BRIT, INFORMAL]...this bent accountant.
8) ADJ Homosexuals are sometimes described as bent. This use could cause offence. [BRIT, INFORMAL]9) PHRASE: oft PHR with/in n If someone is bent double, the top part of their body is leaning forward towards their legs, usually because they are in great pain or because they are laughing a lot. In American English, you can also say that someone is bent over double.He left the courtroom on the first day bent double with stomach pain.
English dictionary. 2008.
