bind

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   To tie

   To tie; to confine by any ligature.

   • They that reap must sheaf and bind.
2. 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.
3. 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. ›+ 23 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      To exert a binding or restraining influence.

      • These are the ties that bind.
   2. 5

      To tie or fasten tightly together, with a cord, band, ligature, chain, etc.

      • To bind grain in bundles.
      • To bind a prisoner.
   3. 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.
   4. 7

      To couple.

   5. 8

      To oblige, restrain, or hold, by authority, law, duty, promise, vow, affection, or other…

      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.
   6. 9

      To put (a person) under definite legal obligations, especially, under the obligation of a…

      To put (a person) under definite legal obligations, especially, under the obligation of a bond or covenant.

   7. 10

      To place under legal obligation to serve.

      • To bind an apprenticeship.
      • To bound out to service.
   8. 11

      To protect or strengthen by applying a band or binding, as the edge of a carpet or…

      To protect or strengthen by applying a band or binding, as the edge of a carpet or garment.

   9. 12

      To make fast (a thing) about or upon something, as by tying

      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.
   10. 13

       To cover, as with a bandage.

       • To bind up a wound.
   11. 14

       To prevent or restrain from customary or natural action, as by producing constipation.

       • Certain drugs bind the bowels.
   12. 15

       To put together in a cover, as of books.

       • The three novels were bound together.
   13. 16

       To make two or more elements stick together.

   14. 17

       To associate an identifier with a value

       To associate an identifier with a value; to associate a variable name, method name, etc. with the content of a storage location.

       • We bind the variable n to the value 2, and xs to "abcd".
       • You can bind an identifier to an object of a derived type, as you did earlier when you bound a string to an identifier of type obj[…]
   15. 18

       To process one or more object modules into an executable program.

   16. 19

       To complain

       To complain; to whine about something.

       • "But it's not much good piling up the pix if I can't sell them." "Oh do stop binding. Think of something. How will we eat, where will we sleep?"
   17. 20

       To wear a binder so as to flatten one's chest to give the appearance of a flat chest,…

       To wear a binder so as to flatten one's chest to give the appearance of a flat chest, usually done by trans men.

       • I haven't binded since I got my top surgery.
       • I hear binder tech has improved since I last bound.
   18. 21

       That which binds or ties.

   19. 22

       A troublesome situation

       A troublesome situation; a problem; a predicament or quandary.

   20. 23

       Any twining or climbing plant or stem, especially a hop vine

       Any twining or climbing plant or stem, especially a hop vine; a bine.

   21. 24

       A ligature or tie for grouping notes.

   22. 25

       A strong grip or stranglehold on a position, which is difficult for the opponent to break.

       • the Maróczy Bind
   23. 26

       The indurated clay of coal mines, or other overlying substances such as sandstone or…

       The indurated clay of coal mines, or other overlying substances such as sandstone or shale.

The neighborhood