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Definition of bind verb from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

     

    bind

     verb
    verb
    NAmE//baɪnd//
     
    Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they bind
     
    he / she / it binds
     
    past simple bound
     
    ,
     
    -ing form binding
     
     
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    tie with rope/cloth
  1. 1[transitive] to tie someone or something with rope, string, etc. so that they cannot move or are held together firmly bind somebody/something to something She was bound to a chair. bind somebody/something together They bound his hands together. bind somebody/something He was left bound and gagged (= tied up and with a piece of cloth tied over his mouth).
  2. 2[transitive] bind something (up) to tie a long thin piece of cloth around something She bound up his wounds. newspapers bound up with twine
    3. make someone do something
  3. 3[transitive, usually passive] to force someone to do something by making them promise to do it or by making it their duty to do it bind somebody (to something) He had been bound to secrecy (= made to promise not to tell people about something). bind somebody to do something The agreement binds her to repay the debt within six months. see binding, bound
    4. unite
  4. 4[transitive] to unite people, organizations, etc. so that they live or work together more happily or effectively bind A and B (together) Organizations such as schools and clubs bind a community together. bind A to B She thought that having his child would bind him to her forever.
    5. stick together
  5. 5[intransitive, transitive] to stick together or to make things stick together in a solid mass bind (together) Add an egg yolk to make the mixture bind. bind something (together) Add an egg yolk to bind the mixture together.
    6. book
  6. 6[transitive, usually passive] bind something (in something) to fasten the pages of a book together and put them inside a cover two volumes bound in leather
    7. sew edge
  7. 7[transitive, often passive] bind something (with something) to sew the edge of something to decorate it or to make it stronger The blankets were bound with satin.
    8. Idioms
      bind/tie somebody hand and foot
       
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    1. 1to tie someone's hands and feet together so that they cannot move or escape
    2. 2to prevent someone from doing what they want by creating rules, restrictions, etc.
    Phrasal Verbsbind over
See bind in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
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