bind

[ bahynd ]

/ baɪnd /

verb (used with object), bound, bind·ing.

to fasten or secure with a band or bond.

to encircle with a band or ligature: She bound her hair with a ribbon.

to swathe or bandage (often followed by up): to bind up one's wounds.

to fasten around; fix in place by girding: They bound his hands behind him.

to tie up (anything, as sheaves of grain).

to cause to cohere: Ice bound the soil.

to unite by any legal or moral tie: to be bound by a contract.

to hold to a particular state, place, employment, etc.: Business kept him bound to the city.

to place under obligation or compulsion (usually used passively): We are bound by good sense to obey the country's laws.

Law. to put under legal obligation, as to keep the peace or appear as a witness (often followed by over): This action binds them to keep the peace. He was bound over to the grand jury.

to make compulsory or obligatory: to bind the order with a deposit.

to fasten or secure within a cover, as a book: They will bind the new book in leather.

to cover the edge of, as for protection or ornament: to bind a carpet.

(of clothing) to chafe or restrict (the wearer): This shirt binds me under the arms.

Medicine/Medical. to hinder or restrain (the bowels) from their natural operations; constipate.

to indenture as an apprentice (often followed by out): In his youth his father bound him to a blacksmith.

verb (used without object), bound, bind·ing.

to become compact or solid; cohere.

to be obligatory: an obligation that binds.

to chafe or restrict, as poorly fitting garments: This jacket binds through the shoulders.

to stick fast, as a drill in a hole.

Falconry. (of a hawk) to grapple or grasp prey firmly in flight.

noun

the act or process of binding; the state or instance of being bound.

something that binds.

Music. a tie, slur, or brace.

Falconry. the act of binding prey in flight.

Informal. a difficult situation or predicament: This schedule has us in a bind.

Verb Phrases

bind off, Textiles. to loop (one stitch) over another in making an edge on knitted fabric.

Origin of bind

before 1000; Middle English binden (v.), Old English bindan; cognate with Old High German bintan, Old Norse binda, Gothic bindan, Sanskrit bandhati (he) binds

SYNONYMS FOR bind

1 gird, attach, tie.

2 confine, restrain.

9 engage, oblige, obligate.

ANTONYMS FOR bind

1 untie.

OTHER WORDS FROM bind

bind·a·ble, adjective mis·bind, verb, mis·bound, mis·bind·ing. re·bind, verb, re·bound, re·bind·ing.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH bind

bind bound

Words nearby bind

binaural, binaural alternate loudness balance test, binaural diplacusis, binchois, binchy, bind, bind hand and foot, bind over, binder, binder twine, bindery

British Dictionary definitions for bind over (1 of 2)

bind over

verb

(tr, adverb) to place (a person) under a legal obligation, such as one to keep the peace

British Dictionary definitions for bind over (2 of 2)

bind

/ (baɪnd) /

verb binds, binding or bound

to make or become fast or secure with or as if with a tie or band

(tr often foll by up) to encircle or enclose with a band to bind the hair

(tr) to place (someone) under obligation; oblige

(tr) to impose legal obligations or duties upon (a person or party to an agreement)

(tr) to make (a bargain, agreement, etc) irrevocable; seal

(tr) to restrain or confine with or as if with ties, as of responsibility or loyalty

(tr) to place under certain constraints; govern

(tr often foll by up) to bandage or swathe to bind a wound

to cohere or stick or cause to cohere or stick egg binds fat and flour

to make or become compact, stiff, or hard frost binds the earth

(tr) to enclose and fasten (the pages of a book) between covers
(intr) (of a book) to undergo this process

(tr) to provide (a garment, hem, etc) with a border or edging, as for decoration or to prevent fraying

(tr; sometimes foll by out or over) to employ as an apprentice; indenture

(intr) slang to complain

(tr) logic to bring (a variable) into the scope of an appropriate quantifier See also bound 1 (def. 9)

noun

something that binds

the act of binding or state of being bound

informal a difficult or annoying situation

another word for bine

music another word for tie (def. 17)

mining clay between layers of coal

fencing a pushing movement with the blade made to force one's opponent's sword from one line into another

chess a position in which one player's pawns have a hold on the centre that makes it difficult for the opponent to advance there

Word Origin for bind

Old English bindan; related to Old Norse binda, Old High German bintan, Latin offendix band ², Sanskrit badhnāti he binds

Scientific definitions for bind over

bind

[ bīnd ]

To combine with, form a bond with, or be taken up by a chemical or chemical structure. An enzyme, for example, is structured in such a way as to be able to bind with its substrate.

Idioms and Phrases with bind over (1 of 2)

bind over

Oblige someone to do or not do something; hold on bail or keep under bond. For example, The sheriff will bind over the murder suspect to the homicide division. This phrase is nearly always used in a legal context. [Late 1500s]

Idioms and Phrases with bind over (2 of 2)

bind

In addition to the idioms beginning with bind

bind hand and foot
bind over

also see:

in a bind

Also see underbound.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

bind

verb (used with object), bound, bind·ing.

verb (used without object), bound, bind·ing.

noun

Verb Phrases

Origin of bind

SYNONYMS FOR bind

ANTONYMS FOR bind

OTHER WORDS FROM bind

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH bind

Words nearby bind

British Dictionary definitions for bind over (1 of 2)

verb

British Dictionary definitions for bind over (2 of 2)

verb binds, binding or bound

noun

Word Origin for bind

Scientific definitions for bind over

Idioms and Phrases with bind over (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with bind over (2 of 2)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

bind

verb (used with object), bound, bind·ing.

verb (used without object), bound, bind·ing.

noun

Verb Phrases

Origin of bind

SYNONYMS FOR bind

ANTONYMS FOR bind

OTHER WORDS FROM bind

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH bind

Words nearby bind

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for bind over (1 of 2)

verb

British Dictionary definitions for bind over (2 of 2)

verb binds, binding or bound

noun

Word Origin for bind

Scientific definitions for bind over

Idioms and Phrases with bind over (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with bind over (2 of 2)

British Dictionary definitions for bind over (1 of 2)