bound

adjective (1)

\ ˈbau̇nd

Definition of bound

(Entry 1 of 7)

1 archaic : ready

2 : intending to go : going bound for home college-bound

bound

noun (1)

Definition of bound (Entry 2 of 7)

1a : a limiting line : boundary —usually used in plural The ball landed out of bounds.

b : something that limits or restrains beyond the bounds of decency police officers overstepping their bound

2 usually bounds

a : borderland

b : the land within certain bounds woodland bounds

3 mathematics : a number greater than or equal to every number in a set (such as the range of a function) also : a number less than or equal to every number in a set

bound

Definition of bound (Entry 3 of 7)

past tense and past participle of bind

bound

verb (1)

bounded; bounding; bounds

Definition of bound (Entry 4 of 7)

transitive verb

1 : to set limits to : confine art … is always greater than the rules with which we may attempt to bound it— C. S. Kilby

2 : to form a separating line or the boundary of : enclose A chain-link fence bounds the yard. The state is bounded on its east by the Connecticut River.

3 : to name the boundaries of Students were asked to bound their state.

bound

adjective (2)

Definition of bound (Entry 5 of 7)

1 : placed under legal or moral restraint or obligation : obliged duty-bound

2a : fastened by or as if by a band : confined desk-bound

b : very likely : sure bound to rain soon

3 : made costive (see costive sense 1a) : constipated

4 of a book : secured to the covers by cords, tapes, or glue leather-bound

5 : determined, resolved was bound and determined to have his way

6 : held in chemical or physical combination

7 : always occurring in combination with another linguistic form un- in unknown and -er in speaker are bound forms — compare free entry 1 sense 11d

bound

noun (2)

Definition of bound (Entry 6 of 7)

1 : leap, jump cleared the hedge at a bound

2 : the action of rebounding : bounce

bound

verb

bounded; bounding; bounds

Definition of bound (Entry 7 of 7)

intransitive verb

1 : to move by leaping deer bounding across a field She bounded down the stairs.

2 : rebound, bounce a bounding rubber ball

First Known Use of bound

Adjective (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

circa 1556, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for bound

Adjective (1)

Middle English boun, from Old Norse būinn, past participle of būa to dwell, prepare; akin to Old High German būan to dwell — more at bower

Noun (1) and Verb (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French bounde, bodne, from Medieval Latin bodina

Adjective (2)

Middle English bounden, from past participle of binden to bind

Noun (2) and Verb

Middle French bond, from bondir to leap, from Vulgar Latin *bombitire to hum, from Latin bombus deep hollow sound — more at bomb entry 1

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More Definitions for bound

bound

adjective

\ ˈbau̇nd

Kids Definition of bound

(Entry 1 of 7)

: going or intending to go homeward bound

bound

noun

Kids Definition of bound (Entry 2 of 7)

1 : a boundary line

2 : a point or line beyond which a person or thing cannot go The ball has to stay within these bounds.

bound

bound

Definition of bound

First Known Use of bound

History and Etymology for bound

Kids Definition of bound

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