bind
bind verb, nounBrE /baɪnd/
NAmE /baɪnd/
verb
verb forms
word origin
example bankbaʊnd; NAmE baʊnd/) tie with rope/cloth 1 [transitive] (formal) to tie sb/sth with rope, string, etc. so that they cannot move or are held together firmly
~ sb/sth to sth She was bound to a chair.~ sb/sth together They bound his hands together.~ sb/sth He was left bound and gagged (= tied up and with a piece of cloth tied over his mouth). 2 [transitive] ~ sth (up) (formal) to tie a long thin piece of cloth around sthShe bound up his wounds. unite 3 [transitive] to unite people, organizations, etc. so that they live or work together more happily or effectively~ A (and B) (together) Organizations such as schools and clubs bind a community together.~ A to B She thought that having his child would bind him to her forever. make sb do sth 4 [transitive, usually passive] to force sb to do sth by making them promise to do it or by making it their duty to do it~ sb (to sth) He had been bound to secrecy (= made to promise not to tell people about sth).~ sb to do sth The agreement binds her to repay the debt within six months. 
see also binding, bound stick together 5 [intransitive, transitive] to stick together or to make things stick together in a solid mass~ (together) Add an egg yolk to make the mixture bind.~ sth (together) Add an egg yolk to bind the mixture together. book 6 [transitive, usually passive] ~ sth (in sth) to fasten the pages of a book together and put them inside a covertwo volumes bound in leather sew edge 7 [transitive, often passive] ~ sth (with sth) to sew a piece of material to the edge of sth to decorate it or to make it strongerThe blankets were bound with satin. 
see bind/tie sb hand and foot at hand n.
ˌbind sb ˈover [usually passive] 1 (NAmE, law) to give sb bail while they are waiting to go to trialHe was bound over for trial. 2 (BrE, law) to give sb a formal warning that if they break the law again they will be punishedShe was bound over to keep the peace for a year. noun word origin see also double bindin a ˈbind (NAmE) in a difficult situation that you do not know how to get out of
