The meaning of Bound

verb

Join or fasten (something) to something else.

Usage examples:

Attach your safety line to the bridge

noun

A flat, thin strip or loop of material, used as a fastener, for reinforcement, or as decoration.

Usage examples:

Wads of banknotes fastened with gummed paper bands

verb

Provide or fit (an object) with something in the form of a strip or ring, for reinforcement or decoration.

Usage examples:

Doors are banded with iron to make them stronger

verb

(of people or organizations) form a group to achieve a mutual objective.

Usage examples:

Local people banded together to fight the company

verb

Make a quick, short movement up and down.

Usage examples:

I could see his head bobbing about

noun

A quick, short movement up and down.

Usage examples:

She could only manage a slight bob of her head

verb

Cut (someone's hair) in a bob.

Usage examples:

She'd had her hair bobbed and highlighted

noun

A relationship between people or groups based on shared feelings, interests, or experiences.

Usage examples:

There was a bond of understanding between them

verb

Join or be joined securely to something else, especially by means of an adhesive substance, heat, or pressure.

Usage examples:

Press the material to bond the layers together

noun

A close and lasting relationship between people

Usage examples:

The bond between parents and children is usually very strong., the county issued $4 million in bond…

noun

A line separating two countries, administrative divisions, or other areas.

Usage examples:

Panama's western border with costa rica

verb

Form an edge along or beside (something).

Usage examples:

A pool bordered by palm trees

noun

The line that divides one country or place from another

Usage examples:

The rio grande forms part of the us border., the card has a pretty design around the border., [ t ]…

noun

A line separating two countries, administrative divisions, or other areas.

Usage examples:

Panama's western border with costa rica

verb

Form an edge along or beside (something).

Usage examples:

A pool bordered by palm trees

verb

(with reference to an object, especially a ball) move quickly up, back, or away from a surface after hitting it.

Usage examples:

The ball bounced away and he chased it

noun

A rebound of a ball or other object.

Usage examples:

The wicket was causing the occasional erratic bounce

verb

To move up or away after hitting a surface, or to cause something to move this way

Usage examples:

[ i ] the basketball bounced off the rim of the basket., [ t ] she bounced the baby on her knee., […

noun

A line which marks the limits of an area; a dividing line.

Usage examples:

A county boundary

noun

An edge or limit of something

Usage examples:

You can camp anywhere inside the boundaries of the park., your work is limited only by the boundari…

verb

Skip or dance about in a lively or playful way.

Usage examples:

Children were capering about the room

noun

A playful skipping movement.

Usage examples:

She did a little caper or dance

noun

The cooked and pickled flower bud of a prickly southern european shrub, used to flavour food.

Usage examples:

Add capers and olives

noun

A movement performed in classical riding, in which the horse leaps from the ground and kicks out with its hind legs.

Usage examples:

There's this one, the capriole, where the horse jumps up and snaps his hind legs out.

verb

Jump or dance around excitedly.

Usage examples:

The players cavorted about the pitch

verb

To dance around, having a noisy good time

Usage examples:

A group of teenagers were cavorting in the park.

adjective

Able to be firmly relied on to happen or be the case.

Usage examples:

It's certain that more changes are in the offing

pronoun

Some but not all.

Usage examples:

Certain of his works have been edited

adjective

Having no doubt or knowing exactly that something is true, or known to be true, correct, exact, or effective

Usage examples:

[ + (that) ] are you absolutely certain (that) you gave them the right number?, feel certain i feel…

noun

A series of linked metal rings used for fastening or securing something, or for pulling loads.

Usage examples:

He slid the bolts on the front door and put the safety chain across

verb

Fasten or secure with a chain.

Usage examples:

She chained her bicycle to the railings

noun

A length of metal rings that are connected together and used for fastening or supporting, and in machinery

Usage examples:

She looped the chain around her bike and locked it to the fence., mary wore a silver chain around h…

noun

A round plane figure whose boundary (the circumference) consists of points equidistant from a fixed point (the centre).

Usage examples:

Draw a circle with a compass

verb

Move all the way around (someone or something), especially more than once.

Usage examples:

They were circling athens airport

noun

The enclosing boundary of a curved geometric figure, especially a circle.

Usage examples:

His last work was on the cycloid, the curve traced by a point on the circumference of a rolling cir…

verb

Restrict (something) within limits.

Usage examples:

The minister's powers are circumscribed both by tradition and the organization of local government

phrasal verb

Advance or converge on

phrasal verb

To move toward someone or something gradually and from all directions

Usage examples:

It felt as though the walls of the room were closing in on her.

collocation

Working closely together to create or achieve the same thing

Usage examples:

The director was in close collaboration with the playwright., i think you will find that they are g…

verb

Form a unified whole.

Usage examples:

He made the series of fictions cohere into a convincing sequence

noun

An instrument containing a magnetized pointer which shows the direction of magnetic north and bearings from it.

Usage examples:

Walkers should be equipped with a map and compass

verb

Go round (something) in a circular course.

Usage examples:

The ship wherein magellan compassed the world

noun

A device for finding direction with a thin pointed metal part that turns to always point north

verb

Keep or restrict someone or something within certain limits of (space, scope, or time).

Usage examples:

He does not confine his message to high politics

noun

The borders or boundaries of a place, especially with regard to their restricting freedom of movement.

Usage examples:

Within the confines of the hall escape was difficult

plural noun

The limits or borders of something

Usage examples:

He feels safe within the confines of his home.

verb

(of a horse) perform a series of jumps on the hind legs.

Usage examples:

It took me some time for the a.g. and myself to get rid of the curvetting dogs, prone as they are t…

noun

A graceful or energetic leap.

Usage examples:

He sprang from the ice in a swift, frisky curvet

verb

Move rhythmically to music, typically following a set sequence of steps.

Usage examples:

Their cheeks were pressed together as they danced

noun

A series of steps and movements that match the speed and rhythm of a piece of music.

Usage examples:

Everyone was taking part in the dance

verb

Taking a series of rhythmical steps in time to music

adjective

(of a person's future) regarded as developing as though according to a pre-existing plan.

Usage examples:

He was destined for great things

verb

Intend or choose for a particular purpose or end.

adjective

Intended for or being sent to a particular place

Usage examples:

The mail was destined for addresses throughout the northeast., [ + to infinitive ] he was destined …

noun

The outside limit of an object, area, or surface.

Usage examples:

A willow tree at the water's edge

verb

Provide with a border or edge.

Usage examples:

The pool is edged with paving

verb

A line determining the limits of an area

noun

The outside limit of an object, area, or surface.

Usage examples:

A willow tree at the water's edge

verb

Provide with a border or edge.

Usage examples:

The pool is edged with paving

noun

The outer or farthest point of something

Usage examples:

The edge of a cliff/table, they walked down to the water’s edge., fig. hitchcock’s films often kept…

verb

Form a circle around; surround.

Usage examples:

The town is encircled by fortified walls

verb

To surround or form a circle around something

Usage examples:

A parking lot encircles the mall.

verb

Surround or close off on all sides.

Usage examples:

The entire estate was enclosed with walls

verb

To surround

Usage examples:

The garden is enclosed by four walls., please enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope.

verb

To include something inside a letter or parcel

Usage examples:

Apply in writing, enclosing a current cv, to the address below., please find enclosed an applicatio…

noun

The furthest point or limit of something.

Usage examples:

The peninsula's western extremity

plural noun

The hands and feet

verb

Be destined to happen, turn out, or act in a particular way.

Usage examples:

The regime was fated to end badly

adjective

Not able to be avoided because planned by a power that controls events

Usage examples:

[ + that ] it seemed fated that we would get married., [ + to infinitive ] she says she was fated t…

noun

A chain or manacle used to restrain a prisoner, typically placed around the ankles.

Usage examples:

He lay bound with fetters of iron

verb

Restrain with chains or manacles, typically around the ankles.

Usage examples:

There were no chains immediately available to fetter the prisoners

verb

To keep someone within limits or stop them from making progress

Usage examples:

Fettered by he felt fettered by a nine-to-five office existence.

verb

Bring (a task or activity) to an end; complete.

Usage examples:

They were straining to finish the job

noun

An end or final part or stage of something.

Usage examples:

A bowl of raspberries was the perfect finish to the meal

verb

To come to an end

Usage examples:

[ i ] the meeting should finish at four o’clock., [ t ] if you’ll let me finish my sentence, i’ll e…

noun

The border or outer edges of an area or group.

Usage examples:

The southern fringes of the city

adjective

Not part of the mainstream; unconventional, peripheral, or extreme.

Usage examples:

Fringe theatre

verb

Short for fringe benefit.

Usage examples:

We offer the highest salary and fringes in the country

noun

The border or outer edges of an area or group.

Usage examples:

The southern fringes of the city

verb

Short for fringe benefit.

Usage examples:

We offer the highest salary and fringes in the country

adjective

Not part of the mainstream; unconventional, peripheral, or extreme.

Usage examples:

Fringe theatre

verb

(of a police officer or other official) pass the hands over (someone) in a search for hidden weapons, drugs, or other items.

Usage examples:

He raised his arms to permit the officer to frisk him

noun

An act of frisking someone.

Usage examples:

A frisk search

verb

To use your hands to search someone’s clothes and body for hidden objects or weapons

Usage examples:

I was frisked when we went through security at the airport., the dog ran ahead, frisking in the bru…

verb

Play or move about in a cheerful and lively way.

Usage examples:

Edward frolicked on the sand

noun

A playful and lively movement or activity.

Usage examples:

His injuries were inflicted by the frolics of a young filly

adjective

Cheerful, merry, or playful.

Usage examples:

A thousand forms of frolic life

noun

The fastest pace of a horse or other quadruped, with all the feet off the ground together in each stride.

Usage examples:

The horse broke into a furious gallop

verb

(of a horse) go at the pace of a gallop.

Usage examples:

We galloped along the sand

verb

A fast gait of a horse

verb

Run or jump about playfully.

Usage examples:

The mare gambolled towards her

noun

An act of running or jumping about playfully.

Usage examples:

The two of them run off to the woods for a gambol together

verb

To run and jump in a happy way

Usage examples:

Lambs were gambolling (about/around) in the spring sunshine.

adjective

For which a guarantee is provided; formally assured.

Usage examples:

The guaranteed bonus is not very high

verb

Provide a formal assurance, especially that certain conditions will be fulfilled relating to a product, service, or transaction.

Usage examples:

The company guarantees to refund your money

adjective

If a product is guaranteed, the company that made it promises to repair it, change it, or return the customer’s money if a fault develops within a particular period of time

Usage examples:

We offer franchise businesses with a guaranteed minimum income., all our appliances are guaranteed …

noun

The edge of a piece of cloth or clothing which has been turned under and sewn.

Usage examples:

The hem of her dress

verb

Turn under and sew the edge of (a piece of cloth).

Usage examples:

She began to hem a border

exclamation

Used in writing to indicate a sound made when coughing or clearing the throat to attract attention or to express hesitation.

Usage examples:

In truth i had slept about 3 hours and breakfast had been a pint of stella — ah hem.

verb

Move (something) into a different position with a jerk.

Usage examples:

She hitched up her skirt and ran

noun

A temporary difficulty or problem.

Usage examples:

Everything went without a hitch

verb

Hook or entangle

verb

Walk in an awkward way, typically because of pain from an injury.

Usage examples:

He was hobbling around on crutches

noun

An awkward way of walking, typically due to pain from an injury.

Usage examples:

He finished the match almost reduced to a hobble

verb

Walk impeded by some physical limitation or injury

verb

(of a person) move by jumping on one foot.

Usage examples:

He hopped along beside her

noun

A hopping movement.

Usage examples:

Place the rabbit on the floor to have a hop around

verb

Flavour with hops.

Usage examples:

A strong dark beer, heavily hopped

noun

One of a series of upright frames over which athletes in a race must jump.

Usage examples:

A hurdle race

verb

Take part in a hurdle race.

Usage examples:

This gelding hurdled fluently

verb

Move or cause to move at high speed, typically in an uncontrolled manner.

Usage examples:

A runaway car hurtled towards them

verb

Move with or as if with a rushing sound

verb

To move very fast, esp. in what seems a dangerous way

Usage examples:

The truck hurtled along at breakneck speed.

verb

Link; connect.

Usage examples:

The tap was joined to a pipe

noun

A place or line where two or more things are connected or fastened together.

Usage examples:

It was soldered so well that you couldn't see the join

verb

Push oneself off a surface and into the air by using the muscles in one's legs and feet.

Usage examples:

The cat jumped off his lap

noun

An act of jumping from a surface by pushing upwards with one's legs and feet.

Usage examples:

In making the short jump across the gully he lost his balance

Move forward by leaps and bounds

verb

Strike or beat with a whip or stick.

Usage examples:

They lashed him repeatedly about the head

noun

A sharp blow or stroke with a whip or rope.

Usage examples:

He was sentenced to fifty lashes for his crime

verb

A quick blow delivered with a whip or whiplike object

verb

Jump or spring a long way, to a great height, or with great force.

Usage examples:

He leapt on to the parapet

noun

A forceful jump or quick movement.

Usage examples:

She came downstairs in a series of flying leaps

verb

Move forward by bounds

noun

A point or level beyond which something does not or may not extend or pass.

Usage examples:

The failure showed the limits of british power

verb

Set or serve as a limit to.

Usage examples:

Try to limit the amount you drink

phrase

Limit

Usage examples:

I'd like to play squash, but i'm 60 and i know my limits., his genius knows no limits., the pay ris…

verb

Walk in a military manner with a regular measured tread.

Usage examples:

Thousands marched behind the coffin

noun

An act or instance of marching.

Usage examples:

The relieving force was more than a day's march away

verb

(of a country, territory, or estate) have a common frontier with.

Usage examples:

His estate marches with yours

noun

The edge or border of something.

Usage examples:

The eastern margin of the indian ocean

verb

Provide with an edge or border.

Usage examples:

The plant's leaves are margined with yellow

noun

The border of empty space around the written or printed text on a page

Usage examples:

She was in the habit of making notes in the margins of her textbooks., he was reelected by a wide m…

noun

A tract of open uncultivated upland, typically covered with heather.

Usage examples:

A little town in the moors

verb

Make fast (a boat) by attaching it by cable or rope to the shore or to an anchor.

Usage examples:

Twenty or so fishing boats were moored to the pierside

noun

A member of a north-western african muslim people of mixed berber and arab descent. in the 8th century they conquered the iberian peninsula, but were finally driven out of their last stronghold in granada at the end of the 15th century.

Usage examples:

For centuries córdoba was the moors' capital and one of europe's most sophisticated cities

adjective

Light in colour or shade; containing little colour or pigment.

Usage examples:

Choose pale floral patterns for walls

verb

Become pale in one's face from shock or fear.

Usage examples:

I paled at the thought of what she might say

noun

A wooden stake or post used with others to form a fence.

Usage examples:

Get creative with a picket fence and have diagonal pales nailed to the horizontal boards.

noun

The continuous line forming the boundary of a closed geometrical figure.

Usage examples:

The perimeter of a rectangle

noun

The outer limits or edge of an area or object.

Usage examples:

New buildings on the periphery of the hospital site

noun

The outer edge of an area

Usage examples:

We’ve planted 50 small trees around the periphery of the property.

noun

The outer part of a bird's wing including the flight feathers.

Usage examples:

Buglike, and reminding me of dragonfly wings were two long pinions, and just under them were two mo…

verb

Restrain or immobilize (someone) by tying up or holding their arms or legs.

Usage examples:

He was pinioned to the ground

noun

A small cogwheel or spindle engaging with a large cogwheel.

Usage examples:

It is used for railroad frogs, for steel mill coupling housings, pinions, spindles, and for dipper …

verb

(of a horse) move with high springy steps.

Usage examples:

The pony was prancing around the paddock

noun

An act or instance of prancing.

Usage examples:

Then we watch him prance (yes, it is a prance, there is no other way to describe it) around the roo…

noun

The area within the walls or perceived boundaries of a particular building or place.

Usage examples:

A former mp who still works in the precincts of the house

adjective

(of an outcome or course of events) determined in advance by divine will or fate.

Usage examples:

Our predestined end

verb

(of god) destine (someone) for a particular fate or purpose.

Usage examples:

Calvinists believed that every person was predestined by god to go to heaven or to hell

adjective

If an action or event is predestined, it is controlled by god or by fate

Usage examples:

It seems the expedition is predestined to fail because there have been so many problems.

noun

An ornamental border, typically one inlaid on the back or belly of a violin.

verb

Decorate (something) with an ornamental border.

Usage examples:

One of their bestselling items is a clear plastic raincoat purfled with ribbon

noun

The upper or outer edge of an object, typically something circular or approximately circular.

Usage examples:

A china egg cup with a gold rim

verb

Form or act as an outer edge or rim for.

Usage examples:

A huge lake rimmed by glaciers

verb

Lick or suck the anus of (someone) as a means of sexual stimulation.

noun

A small circular band, typically of precious metal and often set with one or more gemstones, worn on a finger as an ornament or a token of marriage, engagement, or authority.

Usage examples:

A diamond ring

verb

Surround (someone or something), especially for protection or containment.

Usage examples:

The courthouse was ringed with police

noun

An act of ringing a bell, or the resonant sound caused by this.

Usage examples:

There was a ring at the door

verb

Act or behave in a jovial and exuberant fashion.

Usage examples:

A satirical novelist who rollicks through the sleaze of the american psyche

verb

(especially of a child or animal) play roughly and energetically.

Usage examples:

The noisy pack of children romped around the gardens

noun

A spell of rough, energetic play.

Usage examples:

A romp in the snow

noun

A length of thick strong cord made by twisting together strands of hemp, sisal, nylon, or similar material.

Usage examples:

There was no way down, even with a rope

verb

Catch, fasten, or secure with rope.

Usage examples:

The calves must be roped and led out of the stockade

adjective

Fixed or fastened so as not to give way, become loose, or be lost.

Usage examples:

Check to ensure that all nuts and bolts are secure

verb

Fix or attach (something) firmly so that it cannot be moved or lost.

Usage examples:

Pins secure the handle to the main body

adjective

Free from risk and the threat of change for the worse

Usage examples:

A secure job, people want to feel secure economically., the museum has a large endowment, so its fu…

noun

A pair of fetters connected together by a chain, used to fasten a prisoner's wrists or ankles together.

Usage examples:

He tugged on the chain connecting my shackles together

verb

Chain with shackles.

Usage examples:

The prisoner was shackled to the heavy steel chair in the centre of the room

noun

One of a pair of metal rings connected by a chain and fastened to a person’s wrists or the bottoms of the legs to prevent the person from escaping

Usage examples:

The prisoner was led away in shackles., the convicts were shackled and led onto the bus., fig. she …

verb

Move along lightly, stepping from one foot to the other with a hop or bounce.

Usage examples:

She began to skip down the path

noun

A light, bouncing step; a skipping movement.

Usage examples:

He moved with a strange, dancing skip

noun

A large transportable open-topped container for building and other refuse.

Usage examples:

I've salvaged a carpet from a skip

noun

An activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.

Usage examples:

Team sports such as soccer and rugby

verb

Wear or display (a distinctive item).

Usage examples:

He was sporting a huge handlebar moustache

noun

A game, competition, or similar activity, done for enjoyment or as a job, that takes physical effort and skill and is played or done by following particular rules

Usage examples:

[ c ] football, baseball, and basketball are all team sports., [ u ] do you hunt for sport or in or…

verb

Move or jump suddenly or rapidly upwards or forwards.

Usage examples:

I sprang out of bed

noun

The season after winter and before summer, in which vegetation begins to appear, in the northern hemisphere from march to may and in the southern hemisphere from september to november.

Usage examples:

In spring the garden is a feast of blossom

verb

Move forward by leaps and bounds

noun

A thin piece of wood that has fallen or been cut off a tree.

Usage examples:

Hayes picked up a fallen stick and twirled it idly between his fingers.

verb

Push a sharp or pointed object into or through (something).

Usage examples:

He stuck his fork into the sausage

verb

A long thin implement resembling a length of wood

noun

A strip of leather, cloth, or other flexible material, used to fasten, secure, or carry something or to hold on to something.

Usage examples:

Her bra strap

verb

Fasten or secure in a specified place or position with a strap.

Usage examples:

I had to strap the bag to my bicycle

verb

An elongated leather strip (or a strip of similar material) for binding things together or holding something in position

adjective

Completely confident that one is right.

Usage examples:

I'm sure i've seen that dress before

adverb

Certainly (used for emphasis).

Usage examples:

Texas sure was a great place to grow up

adjective

Certain; without any doubt

Usage examples:

"no more dessert for me, thank you." "are you sure?", [ + (that) clause ] i’m sure (that) i left my…

verb

Be all round (someone or something).

Usage examples:

The hotel is surrounded by its own gardens

noun

A thing that forms a border or edging round an object.

Usage examples:

An oak fireplace surround

verb

To be around something on all sides

Usage examples:

Snow-capped mountains surround the city., the house was surrounded by dense woods., i’m interested …

verb

Tie (an animal) with a rope or chain so as to restrict its movement.

Usage examples:

The horse had been tethered to a post

noun

A rope or chain with which an animal is tied to restrict its movement.

Usage examples:

Regulations banning neck and girth tethers for sows

noun

A rope, chain, or other device used to attach a person or animal to a fixed object

Usage examples:

Asthma kept him tethered to an oxygen tank.

verb

Attach or fasten with string or similar cord.

Usage examples:

They tied max to a chair

noun

A piece of string, cord, or similar used for fastening or tying something.

Usage examples:

He tightened the tie of his robe

verb

Fasten or secure with a rope, string, or cord

idiom

Secure with or as if with ropes

phrasal verb

Bind someone so that they cannot move or escape.

Usage examples:

Robbers tied her up and ransacked her home

phrasal verb

Occupy someone to the exclusion of any other activity.

Usage examples:

She would be tied up at the meeting all day

verb

Make (something) neat or of the required size or form by cutting away irregular or unwanted parts.

Usage examples:

Trim the grass using a sharp mower

noun

Additional decoration, typically along the edges of something and in contrasting colour or material.

Usage examples:

A red blazer with gold trim

adjective

Neat and smart in appearance; in good order.

Usage examples:

His face was freshly shaved, his clothes neat and trim

noun

A framework, typically consisting of rafters, posts, and struts, supporting a roof, bridge, or other structure.

Usage examples:

Roof trusses

verb

Tie up the wings and legs of (a chicken or other bird) before cooking.

Usage examples:

Alfred had already trussed and stuffed the geese

noun

A support for a building or bridge, made of wood or steel

Usage examples:

No one knows if the fire damaged the building’s trusses and support beams.

verb

Come or bring together for a common purpose or action.

Usage examples:

He called on the party to unite

verb

Join or combine

verb

To bring different groups or things together to become one, or to join together to become one

Usage examples:

[ i ] the thirteen american colonies united to form a new nation.

noun

A roof in the form of an arch or a series of arches, typical of churches and other large, formal buildings.

Usage examples:

A gothic ribbed vault

verb

Leap or spring while supporting or propelling oneself with one or both hands or with the help of a pole.

Usage examples:

He vaulted over the gate

noun

An act of vaulting.

Usage examples:

The barman, with a practised vault of the bar, was again serving wine