bind Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun something that hinders as if with bonds
  2. verb stick to firmly
    stick to; hold fast; adhere; stick; bond.
    • Will this wallpaper adhere to the wall?
  3. verb create social or emotional ties
    bond; attach; tie.
    • The grandparents want to bond with the child
  4. verb make fast; tie or secure, with or as if with a rope
    • The Chinese would bind the feet of their women
  5. verb wrap around with something so as to cover or enclose
    bandage.
  6. verb secure with or as if with ropes
    tie up; tie down; truss.
    • tie down the prisoners
    • tie up the old newspapers and bring them to the recycling shed
  7. verb bind by an obligation; cause to be indebted
    oblige; obligate; hold.
    • He's held by a contract
    • I'll hold you by your promise
  8. verb provide with a binding
    • bind the books in leather
  9. verb fasten or secure with a rope, string, or cord
    tie.
    • They tied their victim to the chair
  10. verb form a chemical bond with
    • The hydrogen binds the oxygen
  11. verb cause to be constipated
    constipate.
    • These foods tend to constipate you

WordNet

Bind transitive verb
Etymology
AS. bindan, perfect tense band, bundon, p. p. bunden; akin to D. & G. binden, Dan. binde, Sw. & Icel. binda, Goth. bindan, Skr. bandh (for bhandh) to bind, cf. Gr. (for ) cable, and L. offendix.
Wordforms
imperfect Bound ; past participle Bound, formerly Bounden present participle & verbal noun Binding
Definitions
  1. To tie, or confine with a cord, band, ligature, chain, etc.; to fetter; to make fast; as, to bind grain in bundles; to bind a prisoner.
  2. To confine, restrain, or hold by physical force or influence of any kind; as, attraction binds the planets to the sun; frost binds the earth, or the streams.
    He bindeth the floods from overflowing. Job xxviii. 11.
    Whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years. Luke xiii. 16.
  3. To cover, as with a bandage; to bandage or dress; -- sometimes with up; as, to bind up a wound.
  4. To make fast ( a thing) about or upon something, as by tying; to encircle with something; as, to bind a belt about one; to bind a compress upon a part.
  5. To prevent or restrain from customary or natural action; as, certain drugs bind the bowels.
  6. To protect or strengthen by a band or binding, as the edge of a carpet or garment.
  7. To sew or fasten together, and inclose in a cover; as, to bind a book.
  8. Fig.: To oblige, restrain, or hold, by authority, law, duty, promise, vow, affection, or other moral tie; as, to bind the conscience; to bind by kindness; bound by affection; commerce binds nations to each other.
    Who made our laws to bind us, not himself. Milton.
  9. (Law) (a) To bring (any one) under definite legal obligations; esp. under the obligation of a bond or covenant. Abbott. (b) To place under legal obligation to serve; to indenture; as, to bind an apprentice; -- sometimes with out; as, bound out to service. Syn. -- To fetter; tie; fasten; restrain; restrict; oblige.
Bind intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To tie; to confine by any ligature.
    They that reap must sheaf and bind. Shak.
  2. To contract; to grow hard or stiff; to cohere or stick together in a mass; as, clay binds by heat. Mortimer.
  3. To be restrained from motion, or from customary or natural action, as by friction.
  4. To exert a binding or restraining influence. Locke.
Bind noun
Definitions
  1. That which binds or ties.
  2. Any twining or climbing plant or stem, esp. a hop vine; a bine.
  3. (Metal.) Indurated clay, when much mixed with the oxide of iron. Kirwan.
  4. (Mus.) A ligature or tie for grouping notes.

Webster 1913