bound
7 ENTRIES FOUND:
2
bound
/ˈbaʊnd/
adjective
2
bound
/ˈbaʊnd/
adjective
Britannica Dictionary definition of BOUND
1
not used before a noun
:
very likely or certain to do or to be something
-
It's bound to rain soon.
-
It's bound to be a great party.
-
I knew they would get married. It was bound to happen.
-
Everyone is bound to make mistakes sometimes.
-
Such a foolish plan is bound to fail.
2
:
unlikely or unable to change, develop, move, etc., because of being held or controlled by something
— often used in combination
—
see also deskbound, fogbound, housebound, icebound, muscle-bound, snowbound
-
an organization that is bound by tradition
-
a tradition-bound organization
-
a culture-bound philosophy
3
:
tied together with something (such as a string or rope)
—
see also 1bind 1, 2
-
a neatly/tightly/loosely bound stack of papers
4
not used before a noun
:
closely joined or connected to other people
—
see also 1bind 7
-
She and I are bound (together) by our shared past. [=we are connected to each other because we have the same past]
-
family members bound by either blood or marriage
5
not used before a noun
:
required by law or duty to do something
—
see also 1bind 5
-
The state is legally bound [=obligated] to provide each child with an education.
-
He was duty bound [=it was his duty] to help.
-
I felt honor bound to defend them. [=I felt that I had to defend them because it was morally right]
-
(chiefly Brit) The experiment, I am bound to say [=I must say/admit], seems to have succeeded.
6
:
held together or covered with a particular type of material
— often + in
— often used in combination
—
see also 1bind 11
-
books bound in leather/velvet
-
leather-bound books [=books with leather covers]
-
a spiral-bound notebook [=a notebook that has its pages held together with a curving wire]
bound and determined
:
very determined
-
We were bound and determined to finish the project on time.
bound up
:
closely involved or associated
:
greatly affected
— usually + with
-
The fates of such projects are always bound up in politics.
-
Their lives are closely bound up with their religion.
-
These societal changes are inextricably bound up with the development of new technologies.
I'll be bound
British, old-fashioned
— used to stress that you are sure of something you have said
-
It'll be dark soon, I'll be bound.
—
compare 3bound
3
bound
/ˈbaʊnd/
adjective
3
bound
/ˈbaʊnd/
adjective
Britannica Dictionary definition of BOUND
:
going or planning to go to a specified place
— often + for
—
see also eastbound, homebound, inbound, northbound, outbound, southbound, westbound
-
We were homeward bound. [=we were going towards our home]
-
college-bound teenagers [=teenagers who are planning to go to college]
-
She got on a plane bound for [=going to] London.
-
He was bound for New York.
-
a ship bound for Africa
—
compare 2bound
4
bound
/ˈbaʊnd/
noun
plural
bounds
4
bound
/ˈbaʊnd/
noun
plural
bounds
Britannica Dictionary definition of BOUND
[count]
:
a leap or long jump
-
He leapt over the puddle in/with a single bound.
by/in leaps and bounds
—
compare 6bound
5
bound
/ˈbaʊnd/
verb
bounds;
bounded;
bounding
5
bound
/ˈbaʊnd/
verb
bounds;
bounded;
bounding
Britannica Dictionary definition of BOUND
always followed by an adverb or preposition
[no object]
:
to move by jumping
:
to walk or run with long, energetic steps
-
She came bounding down the stairs.
-
We saw three deer bound over the fence into the woods.
—
compare 7bound
6
bound
/ˈbaʊnd/
noun
plural
bounds
6
bound
/ˈbaʊnd/
noun
plural
bounds
Britannica Dictionary definition of BOUND
1
bounds
[plural]
:
the point at which something (such as an idea or someone's behavior) stops being good or acceptable
:
the limit of what is correct or proper
-
The play goes beyond the bounds of decency. = The play exceeds the bounds of decency.
-
within the bounds of reason = within reasonable bounds
-
The police officers exceeded/overstepped their bounds and broke the law.
2
[count]
:
something that shows where one area ends and another area begins
— usually plural
-
the bounds [=(more commonly) boundaries] of the nature reserve
know no bounds
:
to have no limit
-
His generosity knows no bounds. [=he is extremely generous]
in bounds
:
inside the area where players or the ball must stay in sports like basketball and American football
-
The receiver was still in bounds when he caught the pass.
-
The referee said the ball landed in bounds.
out of bounds
1
:
outside the area where players or the ball must stay in sports like basketball and American football
-
The ball was kicked out of bounds.
-
The player stepped out of bounds to avoid being hit.
2
:
not good or acceptable
-
The teacher's comment was completely out of bounds. [=unacceptable, inappropriate]
3
— used to describe a place where people are not allowed to go
-
The auditorium is out of bounds for/to students during the renovations.
4
— used to describe something that people are not allowed to discuss or mention
-
The subject of politics is out of bounds [=off limits] when our family gets together.
—
compare 4bound
7
bound
/ˈbaʊnd/
verb
bounds;
bounded;
bounding
7
bound
/ˈbaʊnd/
verb
bounds;
bounded;
bounding
Britannica Dictionary definition of BOUND
[+ object]
:
to form a border around (an area)
— usually used as (be) bounded
-
a quiet village bounded [=surrounded, enclosed] by mountains
-
The city is bounded by two major highways.
—
compare 5bound
