Bendings

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈbɛndɪŋz/

Definitions

1. A process referring to the act of curving or shaping something; the result of altering the straightness of an object or material; the application of pressure causing a flexible item to change shape without breaking
2. Actions that involve creating an arc or angle; a phenomenon where an object takes on a new form through forceful manipulation; the bending of a rigid structure resulting from external influence
3. The method of making something turn or tilt; an end result where a linear element becomes pre-shaped; a characteristic of materials that yield to applied stress while maintaining their integrity

Etymology: "Bendings" is the plural of "bending," a noun for the act of curving something or the curves themselves. The plural form turns the idea of bending into countable instances, so a sculptor might speak of the bendings in a steel rod, or a surveyor of the bendings in a river. The plural is the form of "bending," which comes from the verb "bend." That verb traces back to Old English "bendan," meaning to bind or to tie with a cord, and its sense of pulling a bow into a curve came later. "Bending" itself is the verbal noun built on that base, and "bendings" pluralizes it.