• | To tie, or confine with a cord, band, ligature, chain,
etc.; to fetter; to make fast; as, to bind grain in bundles; to bind a
prisoner. |
• | To confine, restrain, or hold by physical force or
influence of any kind; as, attraction binds the planets to the sun;
frost binds the earth, or the streams. |
• | To cover, as with a bandage; to bandage or dress; --
sometimes with up; as, to bind up a wound. |
• | To make fast ( a thing) about or upon something, as by
tying; to encircle with something; as, to bind a belt about one; to
bind a compress upon a part. |
• | To prevent or restrain from customary or natural action;
as, certain drugs bind the bowels. |
• | To protect or strengthen by a band or binding, as the edge
of a carpet or garment. |
• | To sew or fasten together, and inclose in a cover; as, to
bind a book. |
• | Fig.: To oblige, restrain, or hold, by authority, law,
duty, promise, vow, affection, or other moral tie; as, to bind the
conscience; to bind by kindness; bound by affection; commerce binds
nations to each other. |
• | To bring (any one) under definite legal obligations; esp.
under the obligation of a bond or covenant. |
• | To place under legal obligation to serve; to indenture;
as, to bind an apprentice; -- sometimes with out; as, bound out to
service. |
• | To tie; to confine by any ligature. |
• | To contract; to grow hard or stiff; to cohere or stick
together in a mass; as, clay binds by heat. |
• | To be restrained from motion, or from customary or natural
action, as by friction. |
• | To exert a binding or restraining influence. |
• | That which binds or ties. |
• | Any twining or climbing plant or stem, esp. a hop vine; a
bine. |
• | Indurated clay, when much mixed with the oxide of iron. |
• | A ligature or tie for grouping notes. |