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Bound Very Common

Bound has 24 different meanings across 3 categories:

Noun · Verb · Adjective

Definitions
Noun
1

a line determining the limits of an area

"The surveyor marked out a bound around the new construction site to ensure no equipment went outside the designated zone."

2

the line or plane indicating the limit or extent of something

"The new safety regulations marked a hard bound on how far we could expand our operations without additional funding."

3

the greatest possible degree of something

"what he did was beyond the bounds of acceptable behavior"

"to the limit of his ability"

4

a light, self-propelled movement upwards or forwards

"The cat leaped and bound across the garden fence to chase the butterfly."

5

A boundary, the border which one must cross in order to enter or leave a territory.

"The horse bounded over the high fence with effortless power."

6

A sizeable jump, great leap.

In plain English: A bound is a single jump or leap that someone makes when they push off the ground with their legs.

"The young dog was full of bound and energy."

Usage: Use "bound" to describe a large, energetic leap or jump, as in "the dog made a high bound over the fence." Do not confuse this with the adjective meaning tied or obligated.

Verb
1

move forward by leaps and bounds

"The horse bounded across the meadow"

"The child leapt across the puddle"

"Can you jump over the fence?"

2

form the boundary of; be contiguous to

"The new fence will bound the garden on three sides, leaving it open to the street at the front."

3

place limits on (extent or amount or access)

"restrict the use of this parking lot"

"limit the time you can spend with your friends"

4

spring back; spring away from an impact

"The rubber ball bounced"

"These particles do not resile but they unite after they collide"

5

simple past tense and past participle of bind

"The energetic puppy bounded across the grass after chasing its own tail."

6

To surround a territory or other geographical entity.

7

To leap, move by jumping.

In plain English: To be bound means to be tied up so you cannot move freely.

"The baby is bound to fall if he stands up without support."

Usage: Use "bound" to describe moving quickly by leaping or springing forward, often with energy and agility. It implies a series of jumps rather than a single hop, distinguishing it from the simpler action of hopping.

Adjective
1

confined by bonds

"bound and gagged hostages"

2

held with another element, substance or material in chemical or physical union

"The rust had bound tightly to the iron railing, making it difficult to remove without scraping off layers of paint."

3

secured with a cover or binding; often used as a combining form

"bound volumes"

"leather-bound volumes"

4

(usually followed by `to') governed by fate

"bound to happen"

"an old house destined to be demolished"

"he is destined to be famous"

5

covered or wrapped with a bandage

"the bandaged wound on the back of his head"

"an injury bound in fresh gauze"

6

headed or intending to head in a certain direction; often used as a combining form as in `college-bound students'

"children bound for school"

"a flight destined for New York"

7

bound by an oath

"a bound official"

8

bound by contract

"After signing the non-disclosure agreement, she felt legally bound by contract to keep our business secrets confidential."

9

confined in the bowels

"he is bound in the belly"

10

Obliged (to).

"The new intern is bound to handle the client presentation perfectly since she has rehearsed every detail."

11

Ready, prepared.

In plain English: Bound means ready and eager to do something exciting.

"The new puppy was full of boundless energy and played all day long."

Usage: Use "bound" as an adjective when something is naturally ready or eager to happen, such as saying a trip is bound to succeed. Do not confuse this state of inevitability with the action of jumping or moving quickly.

Example Sentences
"The new puppy was full of boundless energy and played all day long." adj
"The young dog was full of bound and energy." noun
"The baby is bound to fall if he stands up without support." verb
See Also
book unfree unfettered moral obligation altermatic obstriction størmer's theorem surround
Related Terms
book unfree unfettered moral obligation altermatic obstriction størmer's theorem surround epsilontic railbound cyclorelease leapingly episteme boundary bindable adscription quantifier water of crystallization frankpledge confine
Antonyms
unbound free
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
line extremity extent jump move enclose
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)
rim margin periphery brink upper bound lower bound thalweg hairline frontier heliopause boundary line bourn district line county line city line edge end limit outline surface shoreline knife-edge starkness thermal barrier utmost verge caper pounce pronk bounce burst capriole galumph ski jump saltate vault leapfrog curvet hop skirt shore reduce tie gate draw the line mark off hamper stiffen clamp down demarcate restrain scant kick back skip carom

Origin

The word "bound" comes from the Old English verb bindan, which means to tie or fasten. It entered Middle English as bund and later evolved into its modern form while retaining the original sense of being tied down.

Rhyming Words
und hund rund ound gund fund lund mund bund laund found maund pound round wound hound gound mound sound rotund
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