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Definition of “bound”

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Word Frequency

Word Frequency of bound

bound1 (baʊnd Pronunciation for bound1 ) 

Definitions

verb

  1. the past tense and past participle of bind

adjective

  1. in bonds or chains; tied with or as if with a rope ⇒ a bound prisoner
  2. in combination restricted; confined ⇒ housebound, fogbound
  3. postpositive, foll by an infinitive destined; sure; certain ⇒ it's bound to happen
  4. postpositive , often foll by by compelled or obliged to act, behave, or think in a particular way, as by duty, circumstance, or convention
  5. (of a book) secured within a cover or binding ⇒ to deliver bound books
    See also half-bound
  6. postpositive , foll by on (US) resolved; determined ⇒ bound on winning
  7. (linguistics)
    1. denoting a morpheme, such as the prefix non-, that occurs only as part of another word and not as a separate word in itself Compare free (sense 21)
    2. (in systemic grammar) denoting a clause that has a nonfinite predicator or that is introduced by a binder, and that occurs only together with a freestanding clause Compare freestanding
  8. (logic) (of a variable) occurring within the scope of a quantifier that indicates the degree of generality of the open sentence in which the variable occurs: in (x) ( Fx → bxy), x is bound and y is free See free (sense 22)

  9. See bound up with

  10. See I'll be bound

Synonyms

View thesaurus entry
= compelled, obliged, forced, committed, pledged, constrained, obligated, beholden, duty-bound
= tied, fixed, secured, attached, lashed, tied up, fastened, trussed, pinioned, made fast
= certain, sure, fated, doomed, destined, very likely

bound2 (baʊnd Pronunciation for bound2 ) 

Definitions

verb

  1. to move forwards or make (one's way) by leaps or jumps
  2. to bounce; spring away from an impact

noun

  1. a jump upwards or forwards

  2. See by leaps and bounds

  3. a sudden pronounced sense of excitement ⇒ his heart gave a sudden bound when he saw her
  4. a bounce, as of a ball

Word Origin

C16: from Old French bond a leap, from bondir to jump, resound, from Vulgar Latin bombitīre (unattested) to buzz, hum, from Latin bombus booming sound

bound3 (baʊnd Pronunciation for bound3 ) 

Definitions

verb

  1. tr to place restrictions on; limit
  2. when intr, foll by on to form a boundary of (an area of land or sea, political or administrative region, etc)

noun

  1. (mathematics)
    1. a number which is greater than all the members of a set of numbers (an upper bound), or less than all its members (a lower bound) See also bounded (sense 1)
    2. more generally, an element of an ordered set that has the same ordering relation to all the members of a given subset
    3. whence, an estimate of the extent of some set
  2. See bounds

Word Origin

C13: from Old French bonde, from Medieval Latin bodina, of Gaulish origin

bound4 (baʊnd Pronunciation for bound4 ) 

Definitions

adjective

    1. postpositive , often foll by for going or intending to go towards; on the way to ⇒ a ship bound for Jamaica, homeward bound
    2. (in combination) ⇒ northbound traffic

Word Origin

C13: from Old Norse buinn, past participle of būa to prepare

Synonyms

View thesaurus entry
= going to, travelling to, flying to, on its way to, sailing to

bind (baɪnd Pronunciation for bind ) 

Definitions

verb

Word forms:  binds, binding, bound
  1. to make or become fast or secure with or as if with a tie or band
  2. tr often foll by up to encircle or enclose with a band ⇒ to bind the hair
  3. tr to place (someone) under obligation; oblige
  4. tr to impose legal obligations or duties upon (a person or party to an agreement)
  5. tr to make (a bargain, agreement, etc) irrevocable; seal
  6. tr to restrain or confine with or as if with ties, as of responsibility or loyalty
  7. tr to place under certain constraints; govern
  8. tr often foll by up to bandage or swathe ⇒ to bind a wound
  9. to cohere or stick or cause to cohere or stick ⇒ egg binds fat and flour
  10. to make or become compact, stiff, or hard ⇒ frost binds the earth
    1. tr to enclose and fasten (the pages of a book) between covers
    2. intr (of a book) to undergo this process
  12. tr to provide (a garment, hem, etc) with a border or edging, as for decoration or to prevent fraying
  13. tr; sometimes foll by out or over to employ as an apprentice; indenture
  14. intr (slang) to complain
  15. tr (logic) to bring (a variable) into the scope of an appropriate quantifier See also bound1 (sense 9)

noun

  1. something that binds
  2. the act of binding or state of being bound
  3. (informal) a difficult or annoying situation
  4. another word for bine
  5. (music) another word for tie (sense 17)
  6. (mining) clay between layers of coal
  7. (fencing) a pushing movement with the blade made to force one's opponent's sword from one line into another
  8. (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

See also

bind over

Word Origin

Old English bindan; related to Old Norse binda, Old High German bintan, Latin offendixband², Sanskrit badhnāti he binds

Synonyms

View thesaurus entry
= unite, join, link, consolidate, unify
= oblige, make, force, require, engage, compel, prescribe, constrain, necessitate, impel, obligate
= tie, unite, join, stick, secure, attach, wrap, rope, knot, strap, lash, glue, tie up, hitch, paste, fasten, truss, make fast,
= restrict, limit, handicap, confine, detain, restrain, hamper, inhibit, hinder, impede, hem in, keep within bounds or limits
= trim, finish, edge, border
= fuse, join, stick, bond, cement, adhere
= bandage, cover, dress, wrap, swathe, encase
= edge, finish, border, trim, hem
= nuisance, inconvenience, hassle, drag, spot, difficulty, bore, dilemma, pest, hot water, uphill, predicament, annoyance, quandary, pain in the neck, pain in the arse, pain in the backside, pain in the butt

Example Sentences Including 'bound'

A bandage was tied around his mouth and a pillow case put over his head and his legs and arms bound with curtain tie-backs.
Glasgow Herald (2001)
Horse & Hound readers come from all walks of life, but they are bound by an all-consuming passion for their sport.
Country Life (2004)
If I tell Dad I've been in touch with Hettie he's bound to be annoyed.
Alexandra Connor THE TURN OF THE TIDE (2004)
Iranians also know they are bound to be affected by a U. S. attack on Iraq.
Globe and Mail (2003)
One of these survivors - who include four injured royal relatives who remained in hospital yesterday - is eventually bound to talk.
Glasgow Herald (2001)
Sgt Woodland, wearing a beige suit, was led by police into court handcuffed with a rope bound around his waist.
Irish Times (2002)
She could no more jump with her feet tied than she could have swung from the ceiling with her bound wrists.
Val McDermid THE LAST TEMPTATION (2002)
She saw that the glow came from a book, bound in what looked like fur or some sort of hairy hide.
Garth Nix LIRAEL: DAUGHTER OF THE CLAYR (2001)
Sooner or later, Cratyn was bound to give into the Dukes ' pressure to exclude her, agreement or no agreement.
Jennifer Fallon TREASON KEEP (2001)

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