bind
/ˈbaɪ̯nd/ verb B2- To tie; to confine by any ligature.
- To cohere or stick together in a mass. · We’ll throw it in just to make the cheese more binding.
- To be restrained from motion, or from customary or natural action, as by friction. · I wish I knew why the sewing machine binds up after I use it for a while.
- To exert a binding or restraining influence. · These are the ties that bind.
- To tie or fasten tightly together, with a cord, band, ligature, chain, etc. · To bind grain in bundles.· To bind a prisoner.
- To confine, restrain, or hold by physical force or influence of any kind. · Gravity binds the planets to the sun.· Frost binds the earth.
- To couple.
- To oblige, restrain, or hold, by authority, law, duty, promise, vow, affection, or other social tie. · to bind the conscience.
He/she/it binds · Past bound · Past participle bound · -ing form binding
Verb forms
- Base form
- bind
- He/she/it
- binds
- Past
- bound
- Past participle
- bound
- -ing form
- binding
An irregular verb: learn its past and past participle by heart.
Phrasal verbs and expressions
From the library
I am too well aware that though a subordinate, like myself, is bound to acquaint the shipowner with everything that occurs, there are many things he ought most carefully to conceal from all else.”
But bear in mind, that should there fall in your way anyone guilty of conspiring against the government, you will be so much the more bound to visit the offence with rigorous punishment, as it is known you belong to a suspected family.”
Suppose, for instance, the prisoner, as is more than probable, to have served under Napoleon—well, can you expect for an instant, that one accustomed, at the word of his commander, to rush fearlessly on the very bayonets of his foe, will scruple more to drive a stiletto into the heart of one he knows to be his personal enemy, than to slaughter his fellow-creatures, merely because bidden to do so by one he is bound to obey?
It happened shortly after this that the Lion was caught by some hunters, who bound him by strong ropes to the ground.
Other matches
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