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bound1 definition

bound (bo̵und)

intransitive verb

  1. to move with a leap or series of leaps
  2. to spring back from a surface after striking it, as a ball; bounce; rebound

Etymology: MFr bondir < OFr, to leap, make a noise, orig., to echo back < LL bombitare, to buzz, hum < L bombus, a humming: see bomb

transitive verb

to cause to bound or bounce

noun

  1. a jump; leap
  2. a springing back from a surface after striking it; bounce
bound2 definition

bound (bo̵und)

transitive verb, intransitive verb

adjective

  1. confined by or as by binding; tied
  2. closely connected or related
  3. certain; sure; destined bound to lose
  4. under compulsion; obliged legally bound to accept
  5. constipated
  6. provided with a binding or attached cover, as a book
  7. Informal having one's mind made up; resolved a team bound on winning
  8. Linguis. designating a form, or morpheme, that never occurs alone as an independent word in “singing,” -ing is a bound form, but sing is not
bound Idioms

bound up in

or bound up with
  1. deeply devoted to
  2. implicated or involved in
bound3 definition

bound (bo̵und)

adjective

  1. ready to go or going; headed: often with for bound for home
  2. Archaic ready; prepared

Etymology: ME boun, ready (+ -d, prob. by assoc. with bound) < ON buinn, pp. of bua, to prepare: see bondage

bound4 definition

bound (bo̵und)

noun

  1. a boundary; limit
  2. an area near, alongside, or enclosed by a boundary

Etymology: ME bounde < OFr bunne, bodne < ML bodina, butina, boundary, boundary marker

transitive verb

  1. to provide with bounds; limit; confine
  2. to be a limit or boundary to
  3. ☆ to name the boundaries of (a state, etc.)

intransitive verb

to have a boundary (on another country, etc.)
bound Idioms

out of bounds

  1. beyond the boundaries or limits, as of a playing field
  2. not to be entered or used; forbidden

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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