bind

I UK [baɪnd] / US verb
Word forms "bind":
present tense I/you/we/they bind he/she/it binds present participle binding past tense bound UK [baʊnd] / US past participle bound
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1) [transitive] to tie someone's hands or feet together so they cannot move

bind someone/something with something:

They bound his hands with a rope.

be bound and gagged (= to be tied up and have a cloth tied round your mouth):

He was found bound and gagged in the boot of a car.

a) bind or bind up to wind a length of cloth, ribbon etc around something several times

Bind the wound up and leave it.

bind something with something:

His bare feet were bound with strips of rag.

b) to tie a number of things together

bind something together:

The papers were loosely bound together with string.

2) [transitive] to make two people or groups feel as if they are connected to each other in a very close way

bind someone together:

The troubles they had shared bound them much closer together.

3) [transitive, often passive] to limit what someone is allowed to do by making them obey a rule or agreement

bind someone to do something:

The treaty binds each country to reduce pollution levels.

4) [transitive] to fasten the pages of a book together and put a cover on it

a beautifully bound journal

5) [intransitive/transitive] if two substances bind, or if you bind two substances, they stick or mix together and become one substance

Add in a little milk to bind the mixture.

6) [transitive] to decorate something or make it stronger by fastening a long piece of cloth along or round the edges

a black waistcoat bound with gold cord

Phrasal verbs:

- bind over

II UK [baɪnd] / US noun
Word forms "bind":
singular bind plural binds informal

- be a bind

- in a bind