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Bowing vs Prostration - What's the difference?

bowing | prostration |

As nouns the difference between bowing and prostration

is that bowing is the act of bending at the waist, as a sign of respect or greeting while prostration is the act or condition of prostrating (lying flat) oneself, as a sign of humility.

As a verb bowing

is present participle of lang=en (bend.

bowing

English

Verb

(head)
  • (bend )

    • Noun

  • The act of bending at the waist, as a sign of respect or greeting.
    • The courtier had practiced his bowing .
  • A bending.
    • The heavy books caused a bowing in the shelf.
  • A technique for bowing a musical instrument, such as a violin.

    • prostration

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The act or condition of prostrating (lying flat) oneself, as a sign of humility.
  • A part of the ordination of Catholic and Orthodox priests.
    • The ordination ceremony includes a variety of rituals, rich in meaning and history, e.g., the prostration , laying on of hands, anointing of hands, giving of the chalice and paten, and sign of peace. — Diocese of Rochester, NY
  • Being laid face down (prone).
  • The condition of being prostrated, as from heat.
  • A reverential bow performed in Middle Eastern cultures.

    • Usage notes

    * Outside of ordination, prostration as a sign of humility has never been part of the Western tradition, but was present in the Middle-Eastern and Asian traditions.

    Derived terms

    * heat prostration

    Synonyms

    *sujud