bind — English Dictionary

bind
Pronunciations (3)
  • /ˈbaɪ̯nd/
  • /ˈbaɪ̯n/
  • baɪnd

Verb

  1. To tie; to confine by any ligature.

    Usage
    • Intransitive
    Examples

    They that reap must sheaf and bind.

  2. To cohere or stick together in a mass.

    Usage
    • Intransitive
    Examples

    We’ll throw it in just to make the cheese more binding.

    unlocks their [clay’s] binding Quality.

  3. To be restrained from motion, or from customary or natural action, as by friction.

    Usage
    • Intransitive
    Examples

    I wish I knew why the sewing machine binds up after I use it for a while.

  4. To exert a binding or restraining influence.

    Usage
    • Intransitive
    Examples

    These are the ties that bind.

  5. To tie or fasten tightly together, with a cord, band, ligature, chain, etc.

    Usage
    • Transitive
    Examples

    To bind grain in bundles.

    To bind a prisoner.

  6. To confine, restrain, or hold by physical force or influence of any kind.

    Usage
    • Transitive
    Examples

    Gravity binds the planets to the sun.

    Frost binds the earth.

    More examples (2)

    He bindeth the flouds from ouerflowing, and the thing that is hid, bringeth he foorth to light.

    And ought not this woman being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, loe these eighteene yeeres, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?

  7. To couple.

    Usage
    • Transitive
  8. To oblige, restrain, or hold, by authority, law, duty, promise, vow, affection, or other social tie.

    Usage
    • Figurative
    Examples

    to bind the conscience.

    I am much bounden to your Maieſty.

    More examples (3)

    In the concluding whereof Sir Thomas More so worthily handled himself, procuring in our league far more benefits unto this realm, than at that time, by the king or his council was thought possible to be compassed, that for his good service in that voyage, the king, when he after made him Lord Chancellor, caused the Duke of Norfolk openly to declare to the people, as you shall hear hereafter more at large, how much all England was bounden unto him.

    Who made our Laws to bind us, not himſelf,

    He'll mind, I reckon, not getting any work out'n me, but I won't be bounden to him any longer. How can he keep me if I ain't bounden to him?

  9. To put (a person) under definite legal obligations, especially, under the obligation of a bond or covenant.

  10. To place under legal obligation to serve.

    Synonyms
    Examples

    To bind an apprenticeship.

    To bound out to service.

  11. To protect or strengthen by applying a band or binding, as the edge of a carpet or garment.

    Usage
    • Transitive
  12. To make fast (a thing) about or upon something, as by tying; to encircle with something.

    Usage
    • Archaic
    • Transitive
    Examples

    To bind a belt about one.

    To bind a compress upon a wound.

  13. To cover, as with a bandage.

    Usage
    • Transitive
    Synonyms
    Examples

    To bind up a wound.

  14. To prevent or restrain from customary or natural action, as by producing constipation.

    Usage
    • Archaic
    • Transitive
    Examples

    Certain drugs bind the bowels.

  15. To put together in a cover, as of books.

    Usage
    • Transitive
    Examples

    The three novels were bound together.

  16. To make two or more elements stick together.

    Usage
    • Transitive
  17. To associate an identifier with a value; to associate a variable name, method name, etc. with the content of a storage location.

    Usage
    • Transitive
    Examples

    We bind the variable n to the value 2, and xs to "abcd".

    You can bind an identifier to an object of a derived type, as you did earlier when you bound a string to an identifier of type obj[…]

  18. To process one or more object modules into an executable program.

    Usage
    • Transitive
  19. To complain; to whine about something.

    Usage
    • UK usage
    • dialectal
    Examples

    "But it's not much good piling up the pix if I can't sell them." "Oh do stop binding. Think of something. How will we eat, where will we sleep?"

  20. To wear a binder so as to flatten one's chest to give the appearance of a flat chest, usually done by trans men.

    Usage
    • Intransitive
    Examples

    I haven't binded since I got my top surgery.

    I hear binder tech has improved since I last bound.

Noun

  1. That which binds or ties.

    Usage
    • Countable
  2. A troublesome situation; a problem; a predicament or quandary.

    Usage
    • Countable
  3. Any twining or climbing plant or stem, especially a hop vine; a bine.

    Usage
    • Countable
    • Uncountable
  4. A ligature or tie for grouping notes.

    Usage
    • Countable
  5. A strong grip or stranglehold on a position, which is difficult for the opponent to break.

    Usage
    • Countable
    Examples

    the Maróczy Bind

  6. The indurated clay of coal mines, or other overlying substances such as sandstone or shale.

    Usage
    • Countable
    • Uncountable

Noun

  1. something that hinders as if with bonds

Verb

  1. stick to firmly

    Broader terms
    Examples

    Will this wallpaper adhere to the wall?

  2. create social or emotional ties

    Broader terms
    Examples

    The grandparents want to bond with the child

  3. make fast; tie or secure, with or as if with a rope

    Antonyms
    Broader terms
    Examples

    The Chinese would bind the feet of their women

  4. wrap around with something so as to cover or enclose

    Synonyms
    Broader terms
  5. secure with or as if with ropes

    Examples

    tie down the prisoners

    tie up the old newspapers and bring them to the recycling shed

  6. bind by an obligation; cause to be indebted

    Broader terms
    Examples

    He's held by a contract

    I'll hold you by your promise

  7. provide with a binding

    Broader terms
    Examples

    bind the books in leather

  8. fasten or secure with a rope, string, or cord

    Synonyms
    Broader terms
    Examples

    They tied their victim to the chair

  9. form a chemical bond with

    Examples

    The hydrogen binds the oxygen

  10. cause to be constipated

    Synonyms
    Broader terms
    Examples

    These foods tend to constipate you

Word forms
bindsbindingboundbindedboundbindedboundenyboundyboundenbinds

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