Recurve means to bend or to curve back. When a bow is recurved, the bowstring pulls the bow back towards the archer.
The bow was recurved, which made it stronger and easier to hold.
The recurve of the door made it difficult for anyone to get in.
verb
curve or bend (something) back or down
1
In this species these are highly recurved.
2
A longbow is not significantly recurved.
3
The fingers are elongated and recurved.
4
They are depicted with recurve bows.
5
The minute apex is slightly recurved.
6
There, it moved to the northwest, then recurved to the northeast.
7
Instead, it recurved east and made landfall.
8
Emmy recurved back to the northwest on the 26th.
9
The Turkish bow is a recurved composite bow.
10
It also began to recurve to the north and then the northeast.