an electrical force linking atoms
"The strong chemical bond holding these atoms together determines how stable the molecule will be."
a certificate of debt (usually interest-bearing or discounted) that is issued by a government or corporation in order to raise money; the issuer is required to pay a fixed sum annually until maturity and then a fixed sum to repay the principal
"After selling his old car, he used the proceeds to buy government bonds so he could earn interest while waiting for retirement."
a connection that fastens things together
"The carpenter used a strong adhesive bond to secure the wooden beams in place."
a superior quality of strong durable white writing paper; originally made for printing documents
"The archive manager carefully selected bond paper to ensure the historical records would remain crisp and legible for centuries."
United States civil rights leader who was elected to the legislature in Georgia but was barred from taking his seat because he opposed the Vietnam War (born 1940)
"The bond between the community and its newly elected representative remained strong even after history revealed that Bond had been prevented from taking his legislative seat due to his opposition to the Vietnam War."
British secret operative 007 in novels by Ian Fleming
"The spy novelist was famous for creating a fictional Bond who became as iconic as James himself."
the property of sticking together (as of glue and wood) or the joining of surfaces of different composition
"the mutual adhesiveness of cells"
"a heated hydraulic press was required for adhesion"
Evidence of a long-term debt, by which the bond issuer (the borrower) is obliged to pay interest when due, and repay the principal at maturity, as specified on the face of the bond certificate. The rights of the holder are specified in the bond indenture, which contains the legal terms and conditions under which the bond was issued. Bonds are available in two forms: registered bonds, and bearer bonds.
"The lord frowned when a bond refused to pay his tithe without complaint."
A peasant; churl.
In plain English: A bond is a strong feeling of friendship or love between people that makes them feel close to each other.
"The strong bond between the two brothers never broke, no matter how many years passed."
Usage: In everyday usage, a bond is an agreement or connection between people or things, such as a financial investment or a friendship. You should not use this word to refer to a peasant or churl, which is an archaic meaning rarely encountered in modern speech.
issue bonds on
"The city council voted to approve a plan to issue bonds on $50 million worth of new infrastructure projects."
bring together in a common cause or emotion
"The death of their child had drawn them together"
To connect, secure or tie with a bond; to bind.
"The heavy steel beam was secured in place by tightening the metal bonds around its edges."
In plain English: To bond means to become close friends with someone by sharing experiences and feelings.
"The old friends reconnected and quickly bonded over shared memories from their childhood."
Usage: Use "bond" as a verb to describe two people forming a close emotional connection or becoming inseparable through shared experiences. Do not use it to mean physically tying something down, as that requires the word "bind."
Subject to the tenure called bondage.
"Under the harsh laws of ancient Egypt, many families remained in a state of perpetual bond until they could repay their debts to the crown."
In plain English: Bond describes something that is tightly connected or joined together so it cannot be easily separated.
"They formed a strong bond with their new neighbors after moving in."
Usage: Use "bond" as an adjective only in formal or legal contexts to describe someone bound by a specific contract or oath, such as a bond prisoner. In everyday speech, do not use it to mean enslaved or forced into servitude; instead, use the word "slave" or the phrase "in bondage."
An occupational surname.
"The new manager, Bond, introduced himself to the team during the morning briefing."
The word bond comes from Old English beand, which originally meant a chain or fetter used as a restraint. It entered Middle English as a variant of the word for a ribbon or crown before evolving into its current sense.