bind

That which binds or ties.

Noun

  1. That which binds or ties.
  2. A troublesome situation; a problem; a predicament or quandary.

    Synonyms: ass in a sling bind bucket of syrup calvary cauldron cross cross to bear difficulty dilemma dire straits doghouse fix hole jam kettle kettle of fish ordeal pickle pinch plight predicament quandary quagmire situation

  3. Any twining or climbing plant or stem, especially a hop vine; a bine.
  4. A ligature or tie for grouping notes.
  5. A strong grip or stranglehold on a position, which is difficult for the opponent to break.
    • the Maróczy Bind
  6. The indurated clay of coal mines, or other overlying substances such as sandstone or shale.

Origin

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰendʰ-der. Proto-Germanic *bindaną Proto-West Germanic *bindan Old English bindan Middle English binden English bind From Middle English binden, from Old English bindan, from Proto-West Germanic *bindan, from Proto-Germanic *bindaną, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰéndʰ-e-ti, from *bʰendʰ- (“to tie”). See also West Frisian bine, Dutch binden, Low German binnen, binden, German binden, Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, and Norwegian Nynorsk binde, Faroese, Icelandic, and Swedish binda; also Welsh ben (“cart”), Latin offendīx (“knot, band”), Lithuanian beñdras (“partner”), Albanian bind (“to convince, to awe, to spell”), Ancient Greek πεῖσμα (peîsma, “cable, rope”), Persian بستن (bastan, “to bind”), Sanskrit बन्धति (bándhati). Doublet of bandana.

Forms

binds

Derived

bellbind bindless bind rune bindweed cornbind double bind green-bind keybind Maróczy bind time bind

Verb

  1. To tie; to confine by any ligature.
    • They that reap must sheaf and bind. - c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and...
  2. To cohere or stick together in a mass.
    • We’ll throw it in just to make the cheese more binding.
    • unlocks their [clay’s] binding Quality. - 1707, J[ohn] Mortimer, The Whole Art of Husbandry; or, The Way of Managing and Improving of Land. […], London: […] J[ohn] H[umphreys] for H[enry] Mortlock […], and J[onathan]...
  3. 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.
  4. To exert a binding or restraining influence.
    • These are the ties that bind.
  5. To tie or fasten tightly together, with a cord, band, ligature, chain, etc.
    • To bind grain in bundles.
    • To bind a prisoner.

    Synonyms: fetter make fast tie fasten restrain

  6. To confine, restrain, or hold by physical force or influence of any kind.
    • Gravity binds the planets to the sun.
    • Frost binds the earth.
    • He bindeth the flouds from ouerflowing, and the thing that is hid, bringeth he foorth to light. - 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Job 28:11:

    Synonyms: curtail restrain behedge guard govern smother bind chasten check inhibit contain vanquish cork curb bury dampen hamshackle hold back hold down limit repress restrict shackle stay

  7. To couple.
  8. To oblige, restrain, or hold, by authority, law, duty, promise, vow, affection, or other social tie.
    • to bind the conscience.
    • I am much bounden to your Maieſty. - c. 1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Iohn”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac...
    • 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...

    Synonyms: restrain restrict obligate

  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.
    • To bind an apprenticeship.
    • To bound out to service.

    Synonyms: indenture

  11. To protect or strengthen by applying a band or binding, as the edge of a carpet or garment.
  12. To make fast (a thing) about or upon something, as by tying; to encircle with something.
    • To bind a belt about one.
    • To bind a compress upon a wound.

Forms

binds binding bound binded bounden ybound ybounden

Derived

bindable bindee binder bindery bind hand and foot binding knot binding spell bind off bind on equip bind on pickup bind over bind spell bindstone bind to bindup bind up bind up in debind disbind GTP-binding protein hidebound inbind misbind overbind