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Glite Dictionary
👄 Upper lip curve 🏹 Curved bow
Cupid's bow

Cupid's bow

8.0
A curved weapon for shooting arrows with tips that curve outward
  • noun
  • Literature
translation icon : arco de Cupido
  • The design of the Cupid's bow is elegant and reminiscent of classical mythology.

Examples

  • He admired the ornate carvings on the ancient Cupid's bow displayed in the museum.

  • The archer crafted a beautiful Cupid's bow for the festival competition.

  • Look at that Cupid's bow!

  • Why is the Cupid's bow such a popular symbol of love?

  • The artist painted a beautiful portrait that featured Cupid's bow above the lips, emphasizing the romantic shape.

  • In classical sculptures, Cupid's bow is often depicted with graceful curves that symbolize love and affection.

  • She applied lipstick to accentuate her Cupid's bow, highlighting her playful and flirtatious demeanor.

Synonyms

bow
vsCupid's bow
5 3.7

A curved shape like an arch

is a specific curved form whose ends curve outward rather than a simple arch

Surface Forms

Cupid's bow singular
Cupid's bows plural

Morphology

Cupid's + bow

The phrase literally denotes the bow belonging to Cupid, so a learner who knows 'Cupid' (the mythical figure associated with love and arrows) and 'bow' (a curved implement for shooting arrows) can derive the meaning directly. Even the common metaphorical transfer to describe a curved upper lip remains transparently linked to the original image, so no prior idiomatic knowledge is required.

Etymology

Cupid's bow comes from old pictures of Cupid holding an elegant, gently curving bow with ends that turn outward. So any real bow or object with the same double curve is called a 'Cupid's bow' because it looks like the god's bow.