VocabDictionary

bends

/bษ›ndz/intermediate Level

English Meaning & Definitions

1.noun

Decompression sickness, a condition affecting divers and tunnel workers caused by nitrogen bubbles forming in the blood and tissues due to a rapid decrease in surrounding pressure.

Example Sentences:
  • โ€œThe diver had to be rushed to a hyperbaric chamber after showing symptoms of the bends.โ€
  • โ€œAscending too quickly from deep underwater can cause the painful and potentially fatal condition known as the bends.โ€
2.verb

Third-person singular present of 'bend': curves, flexes, or changes direction from a straight line.

Example Sentences:
  • โ€œThe river bends sharply to the left near the old mill.โ€
  • โ€œShe bends down to tie her shoelaces before the race.โ€
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English Antonyms & Opposites

Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown

Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for โ€œbendsโ€.

Thesaurus Entry
Cultural Origin & Etymology

Derived from the verb 'bend' (Old English 'bendan', meaning to bow, curve, or string a bow), with the plural noun usage popularized in the late 19th century among caisson workers and deep-sea divers to describe decompression sickness, because sufferers often found themselves doubled over in severe joint pain.

Memory Aid & Mnemonic

Think of scuba divers coming up too fast and getting double-crossed by joint pain that bends them over in agony.

Frequently Asked Questions About โ€œbendsโ€

1. What is the meaning of โ€œbendsโ€ in English?

In English, bends (noun) is defined as: โ€œDecompression sickness, a condition affecting divers and tunnel workers caused by nitrogen bubbles forming in the blood and tissues due to a rapid decrease in surrounding pressure.โ€.

2. How do you use โ€œbendsโ€ in a sentence?

โ€œThe diver had to be rushed to a hyperbaric chamber after showing symptoms of the bends.โ€

3. What are English synonyms of โ€œbendsโ€?

4. What is the etymology and word origin of โ€œbendsโ€?

Derived from the verb 'bend' (Old English 'bendan', meaning to bow, curve, or string a bow), with the plural noun usage popularized in the late 19th century among caisson workers and deep-sea divers to describe decompression sickness, because sufferers often found themselves doubled over in severe joint pain.