to fasten or secure with a band or bond.

to encircle with a band or ligature

She bound her hair with a ribbon.

to swathe or bandage (often fol. by up )

to bind up one's wounds.

to fasten around; fix in place by girding

They bound his hands behind him.

to tie up (anything, as sheaves of grain).

to cause to cohere

Ice bound the soil.

to unite by any legal or moral tie

to be bound by a contract.

to hold to a particular state, place, employment, etc.

Business kept him bound to the city.

to place under obligation or compulsion (usually used passively)

We are bound by good sense to obey the country's laws.

Law . to put under legal obligation, as to keep the peace or appear as a witness (often fol. by over )

This action binds them to keep the peace. He was bound over to the grand jury.

to make compulsory or obligatory

to bind the order with a deposit.

to fasten or secure within a cover, as a book

They will bind the new book in leather.

to cover the edge of, as for protection or ornament

to bind a carpet.

(of clothing) to chafe or restrict (the wearer)

This shirt binds me under the arms.

Medicine/Medical . to hinder or restrain (the bowels) from their natural operations; constipate.

to indenture as an apprentice (often fol. by out )

In his youth his father bound him to a blacksmith.

to become compact or solid; cohere.

to be obligatory

an obligation that binds.

to chafe or restrict, as poorly fitting garments

This jacket binds through the shoulders.

to stick fast, as a drill in a hole.

Falconry . (of a hawk) to grapple or grasp prey firmly in flight.

the act or process of binding; the state or instance of being bound.

something that binds.

Music . a tie, slur, or brace.

Falconry . the act of binding.

Informal . a difficult situation or predicament

This schedule has us in a bind.

bind off, Textiles . to loop (one stitch) over another in making an edge on knitted fabric.

verb

free , loose , loosen , release , set free , unbind , unfasten , untie , allow , let , permit

noun

between a rock and a hard place , crunch * , difficulty , dilemma , hot water , no-win situation , nuisance , pickle * , predicament , quandary , sticky situation , tight situation , tight spot , box , corner , deep water , dutch , fix , hole , hot spot , jam , plight , quagmire , scrape , soup , trouble , astriction , colligation , contraction , gathering , ligation , ligature , linchpin , objurgation , signature , stringency

verb

adhere , attach , bandage , border , chain , cinch , clamp , connect , constrict , cover , dress , edge , encase , enchain , enfetter , fetter , finish , fix , fold , furl , glue , hamper , handcuff , hem , hitch , hitch on , hobble , hook on , hook up , lace , lap , lash , leash , manacle , moor , muzzle , paste , peg down , pin , pin down , pinion , put together , restrain , restrict , rope , shackle , stick , strap , swathe , tack on , tether , tie , tie up , trammel , trim , truss , unite , wrap , yoke , compel , confine , constrain , detain , engage , enslave , force , hinder , hogtie * , indenture , lock up , necessitate , oblige , prescribe , put half nelson on , put lock on , require , fasten , knot , secure , charge , obligate , pledge , affiliate , ally , combine , conjoin , join , link , relate , apprentice , cement , colligate , confirm , contract , difficulty , dilemma , gird , hogtie , hold , jam , lay under , ligate , obligation , predicament , ratify , sanction , swaddle , swathne , tape , whip