bind

The word “bind” means to tie, fasten, or hold something together tightly, using rope, cord, a band, or similar. In plain terms, to tie things together, or to hold someone to an obligation or rule.

“Bind” is pronounced BYND (/ˈbaɪ̯nd/ in IPA).

Here is “bind” used in a sentence: “The rope was used to bind the fence posts in place.”

Depending on how it is used, “bind” can be a verb and a noun.

The word “bind” comes from Old English. From Old English bindan, going back to a very old Indo-European root meaning "to tie" — the same root gives us "bandana" and "band.".

“Bind” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

“Bind” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to tie, fasten, or hold something together tightly, using rope, cord, a band, or similar.

Bind and tie both describe fastening something together, but bind often suggests wrapping or securing something more thoroughly, such as binding a wound, while tie usually implies a knot or loop. Bind also extends to abstract senses, such as legal obligation, that tie does not typically cover.

To be in a bind means to be in a difficult or awkward situation with no easy way out, such as being caught between two unappealing choices. This noun sense is distinct from the verb meaning to tie or obligate.

In computing, to bind means to link or associate a name, variable, or module with a value or piece of code, such as binding a variable to a specific data type. This technical sense differs from the everyday meaning of physically tying something together.

A legal or moral bind means being held under an obligation or promise, such as a contract that binds two parties to its terms, while a physical bind involves actually tying or fastening an object. Both senses share the underlying idea of being held or restricted.