Bend vs. Flex — What's the Difference?

To cause to assume a curved or angular shape

(with reference to a limb or joint) bend or become bent

To bring (a bow, for example) into a state of tension by drawing on a string or line.

Relating to or denoting a practice of burying a corpse with the legs drawn up under the chin.

To force to assume a different direction or shape, according to one's own purpose

A flexible insulated cable used for carrying electric current to an appliance.

To misrepresent; distort

To bend (something pliant or elastic).

To relax or make an exception to

To bend (a joint).

To cause to swerve from a straight line; deflect

To bend (a joint) repeatedly.

To render submissive; subdue

To contract (a muscle, for example).

To apply (the mind) closely

To move by muscular control

(Nautical) To fasten

To exhibit or show off the strength of

To deviate from a straight line or position

To bend

To assume a curved, crooked, or angular form or direction

Chiefly British Flexible insulated electric cord.

To incline the body; stoop.

The act or an instance of flexing; a bending.

To make a concession; yield.

Flexibility

To apply oneself closely; concentrate

(uncountable) Flexibility, pliancy.

The act or fact of bending.

(countable) An act of flexing.

The state of being bent.

Any flexible insulated electrical wiring.

Something bent

(uncountable) Flexible ductwork, typically flexible plastic over a metal wire coil to shape a tube.

A knot that joins a rope to a rope or another object.

A point of inflection.

Bends The thick planks in a ship's side; wales.

The act of flaunting something; something one considers impressive.

Bends (used with a sing. or pl. verb) Decompression sickness. Used with the.

To bend something.

A band passing from the upper dexter corner of an escutcheon to the lower sinister corner.

(transitive) To repeatedly bend one of one's joints.

(transitive) To cause (something) to change its shape into a curve, by physical force, chemical action, or any other means.

(transitive) To move part of the body using one's muscles.

(intransitive) To become curved.

(intransitive) To tighten the muscles for display of size or strength.

(transitive) To cause to change direction.

To flaunt one's superiority.

(intransitive) To change direction.

To bend; as, to flex the arm.

(intransitive) To be inclined; to direct itself.

Flax.

To stoop.

The act of flexing;

(intransitive) To bow in prayer, or in token of submission.

Contract;

(transitive) To force to submit.

Exhibit the strength of;

(intransitive) To submit.

Form a curve;

(transitive) To apply to a task or purpose.

Bend a joint;

(intransitive) To apply oneself to a task or purpose.

Cause (a plastic object) to assume a crooked or angular form;

(transitive) To adapt or interpret to for a purpose or beneficiary.

To tie, as in securing a line to a cleat; to shackle a chain to an anchor; make fast.

To smoothly change the pitch of a note.

To swing the body when rowing.

A curve.

Any of the various knots which join the ends of two lines.

A severe condition caused by excessively quick decompression, causing bubbles of nitrogen to form in the blood; decompression sickness.

(heraldry) One of the honourable ordinaries formed by two diagonal lines drawn from the dexter chief to the sinister base; it generally occupies a fifth part of the shield if uncharged, but if charged one third.

(obsolete) Turn; purpose; inclination; ends.

In the leather trade, the best quality of sole leather; a butt; sometimes, half a butt cut lengthwise.

(mining) Hard, indurated clay; bind.

The thickest and strongest planks in a ship's sides, more generally called wales, which have the beams, knees, and futtocks bolted to them.

The frames or ribs that form the ship's body from the keel to the top of the sides.

(music) A glissando, or glide between one pitch and another.

To strain or move out of a straight line; to crook by straining; to make crooked; to curve; to make ready for use by drawing into a curve; as, to bend a bow; to bend the knee.

To turn toward some certain point; to direct; to incline.

To apply closely or with interest; to direct.

To cause to yield; to render submissive; to subdue.

To fasten, as one rope to another, or as a sail to its yard or stay; or as a cable to the ring of an anchor.

To be moved or strained out of a straight line; to crook or be curving; to bow.

To jut over; to overhang.

To be inclined; to be directed.

To bow in prayer, or in token of submission.

A turn or deflection from a straight line or from the proper direction or normal position; a curve; a crook; as, a slight bend of the body; a bend in a road.

Turn; purpose; inclination; ends.

A knot by which one rope is fastened to another or to an anchor, spar, or post.

The best quality of sole leather; a butt. See Butt.

Hard, indurated clay; bind.

Same as caisson disease. Usually referred to as the bends.

A band.

One of the honorable ordinaries, containing a third or a fifth part of the field. It crosses the field diagonally from the dexter chief to the sinister base.

A circular segment of a curve;

Movement that causes the formation of a curve

Curved segment (of a road or river or railroad track etc.)

An angular or rounded shape made by folding;

A town in central Oregon at the eastern foot of the Cascade Range

Diagonal line traversing a shield from the upper right corner to the lower left

Form a curve;

Change direction;

Cause (a plastic object) to assume a crooked or angular form;

Bend one's back forward from the waist on down;

Turn from a straight course , fixed direction, or line of interest

Bend a joint;