bind
bind
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "bind" is:
[baɪnd]
Here's a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:
baɪ
b: Voiced bilabial stop
aɪ: Diphthong, starting with a short "a" sound and moving towards a long "i" sound.
nd
n: Voiced alveolar nasal
d: Voiced alveolar stop
Word Form Variations
Present tense: binds
Past tense: bound
Past participle: bound
Present participle: binding
There are no plural forms for "bind" as it is primarily a verb.
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Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Verb Definitions
To tie or fasten something tightly.
Synonyms: tie, fasten, secure, attach
Antonyms: untie, loosen, release
To constrain or restrict someone or something.
Synonyms: confine, restrain, limit, hold back
Antonyms: free, liberate, release
To unite or join things together.
Synonyms: connect, link, combine, merge
Antonyms: separate, divide, disconnect
Noun Definitions
A difficult or unpleasant situation.
Synonyms: predicament, dilemma, trouble, crisis
Antonyms: ease, relief, solution
A legal document that formally obliges someone to do something.
Synonyms: contract, agreement, pact, covenant
Antonyms: release, discharge
Adjective Definition
Firmly attached or fixed.
Synonyms: secure, tight, fastened, rigid
Antonyms: loose, weak, fragile
Examples of Use
Literature
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë: "I was not bound to her by any tie of gratitude; my benefits had been conferred for their own sake, and for the sake of Him whom I believed I served in conferring them."
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien: "The Fellowship was bound by a common purpose, a quest to destroy the One Ring."
News and Online Publications
The New York Times: "The new trade deal binds the two countries closer together, promising increased economic cooperation."
The Guardian: "The government is bound by law to protect its citizens."
Entertainment
Film: In the movie "The Silence of the Lambs," the serial killer Hannibal Lecter is often seen binding his victims before consuming them.
Television: In the TV series "Breaking Bad," Walter White and Jesse Pinkman often find themselves bound by their criminal activities.
General Discourse
Everyday conversation: "I'm bound to be late for work if the traffic is bad."
Legal context: "The contract binds both parties to the agreement."
Medical context: "The bandage binds the wound, preventing infection."
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10 Famous Quotes Using the term Bind
"Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend." Martin Luther King Jr.
"We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided." J.K. Rowling
"All men are bound by ties, each one bound by its own ties." Mahatma Gandhi
"What binds us together is greater than what drives us apart." Lyndon B. Johnson
"Chains do not hold a marriage together. It is threads, hundreds of tiny threads, which sew people together through the years." Simone Signoret
"No soul is desolate as long as there is a human being for whom it can feel trust and reverence." George Eliot
"Gratitude is the thread that binds all noble virtues." Unknown
"The law binds those whom it does not protect." Blaise Pascal
"The ties that bind us are sometimes impossible to explain." Tom Wolfe
"We are bound by the law, so that we may be free." Cicero
Etymology
The word "bind" is quite old, tracing its roots back to the Germanic languages. It's a word that's been around for a long time, and its core meaning has stayed pretty consistent.
The earliest known use of "bind" was in Old English, a language spoken in England hundreds of years ago. Back then, it meant something like "to tie" or "to fasten." People used it to describe the act of securing things together, like tying a package with a rope or fastening a book's pages with a thread.
Over time, the word has evolved and taken on a few more meanings. Today, we use "bind" to talk about:
Physically tying or fastening: This is the original meaning, and it's still common.
Constraining or limiting: We might say someone is "bound by a contract" or "bound by their promises."
Uniting or connecting: We can talk about "the bonds of friendship" or "the ties that bind a family."
So, while the word has grown and changed, its core meaning of tying, fastening, or connecting has remained a constant.
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Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Bind
To be bound by: This means to be obligated or restricted by something, like a contract or a promise.
To be in a bind: This means to be in a difficult situation or predicament.
To tie the knot: This is a common idiom for getting married.
To be hand and foot: This means to be completely restrained or controlled.
To be bound and determined: This means to be very determined to do something.
While "bind" isn't as common in everyday idioms as some other words, its meanings of tying, fastening, or restricting are often expressed through other words and phrases. For example, instead of saying "I'm bound by my promise," you might say "I'm obligated to keep my promise."
However, the word "bind" itself is still used in many common expressions, particularly in legal and formal contexts.
Posts Related to Bind
Source Information
Definition of bind from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
