[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/bind/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [B](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/b/) / bind # bind verb (bind, binds, bound, binding); noun (a bind — informal) «bind» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition and Early Modern English — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. To tie something tightly with string, rope or cloth. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bind/#m1) 2. To hold things together or make people feel close and united. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bind/#m2) 3. To make someone keep a promise or obey a rule or law. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bind/#m3) 4. To fix the pages of a book together inside a cover. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bind/#m4) 5. (noun, informal) A difficult situation; "in a bind" means in trouble. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bind/#m5) 6. (noun, UK informal) A boring or annoying task ("What a bind!"). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bind/#m6) ### In the lessons Used in stories (tie the prisoner's hands), first aid (bind a wound), science (flour and egg bind the mix), law and promises (bound by the rules). Phrases: in a bind, bind together, bound by, bound book. ### Examples - The pirates bound his hands with rope. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bind/#x1) - Bind the wound with a clean bandage. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bind/#x2) - The egg will bind the ingredients together. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bind/#x3) - Friendship binds the class together. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bind/#x4) - We are bound by the rules of the game. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bind/#x5) - Our class poems were bound into a book. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bind/#x6) - I'm in a bit of a bind: I forgot my homework. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bind/#x7) - Washing up every night is such a bind. (UK informal) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bind/#x8) - Take him home and bind his wounds. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bind/#x9) ### Note Irregular: bind, bound, bound (not "binded"). "Bound" also means "certain" (it's bound to rain) and "going to" (bound for London). Noun: binding (book cover); adjective binding (a binding promise must be kept). ## In Jewish tradition To tie the words of God on the hand as a sign, which the tradition takes literally; also to tie up money, fasten garments, or tie up an animal. Job uses it for taming wild animals, and Isaiah uses "bind up" for keeping God's teaching safe by tying and sealing it. **Interpretation.** Tradition reads "bind them for a sign upon thy hand" as the commandment of tefillin, boxes with Torah verses worn on the arm and head. Isaiah's "bind up the testimony" is read as keeping the teaching safe among the disciples. ### Examples - And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy hand, and they shall be for frontlets between thine eyes. (Torah DEU.6.8, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/bind/#x1) - then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thy hand, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose. (Torah DEU.14.25, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/bind/#x2) - And thou shalt gird them with girdles, Aaron and his sons, and bind head-tires on them; and they shall have the priesthood by a perpetual statute; and thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons. (Torah EXO.29.9, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/bind/#x3) - Or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens? (Writings JOB.40.29, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/bind/#x4) - 'Bind up the testimony, seal the instruction among My disciples.' (Prophets ISA.8.16, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/bind/#x5) - Canst thou bind the wild-ox with his band in the furrow? (Writings JOB.39.10, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/bind/#x6) ### Note Irregular: bind, bound, bound (not "binded"). "Bound" also means "certain" (it's bound to rain) and "going to" (bound for London). Noun: binding (book cover); adjective binding (a binding promise must be kept). ## Early Modern English ### Meaning To tie something tightly, or to hold back and restrain. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/B/bind/#m1) ### Then and now Today we use it for tying things. The third sentence uses the old sense of restraining chaos, which is different. ### Examples - And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy hand, and they shall be for frontlets between thine eyes. (Torah DEU.6.8, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/B/bind/#x1) - Take him home and bind his wounds. (The Adventures of Pinocchio) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/B/bind/#x2) - In this interpretation, they are ten elemental entities or properties which bind or restrain primordial תֹּהוּ tohu, 'chaos, void, waste(land)' \[Genesis 1:2\], allowing structure and order to exist in creation. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/B/bind/#x3) ### Note Today: tie up; hold back. ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «bind» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/bind/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«bind» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/bind.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «bind» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/bind/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«bind» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/bind.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «bind» in the Early Modern English dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/B/bind/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«bind» in the Early Modern English dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/emode/w/bind.html) on Mova free.