v. i. 1. To tie; to confine by any ligature. [ 1913 Webster ]

They that reap must sheaf and bind. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To contract; to grow hard or stiff; to cohere or stick together in a mass; as, clay binds by heat. Mortimer. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To be restrained from motion, or from customary or natural action, as by friction. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To exert a binding or restraining influence. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. Bound p. p. Bound, formerly Bounden p. pr. & vb. n. Binding. ] [ AS. bindan, perfect tense band, bundon, p. p. bunden; akin to D. & G. binden, Dan. binde, Sw. & Icel. binda, Goth. bindan, Skr. bandh (for bhandh) to bind, cf. Gr. &unr_; (for &unr_;) cable, and L. offendix. √90. ] 1. To tie, or confine with a cord, band, ligature, chain, etc.; to fetter; to make fast; as, to bind grain in bundles; to bind a prisoner. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To confine, restrain, or hold by physical force or influence of any kind; as, attraction binds the planets to the sun; frost binds the earth, or the streams. [ 1913 Webster ]

He bindeth the floods from overflowing. Job xxviii. 11. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years. Luke xiii. 16. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To cover, as with a bandage; to bandage or dress; -- sometimes with up; as, to bind up a wound. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To make fast ( a thing) about or upon something, as by tying; to encircle with something; as, to bind a belt about one; to bind a compress upon a part. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To prevent or restrain from customary or natural action; as, certain drugs bind the bowels. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To protect or strengthen by a band or binding, as the edge of a carpet or garment. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. To sew or fasten together, and inclose in a cover; as, to bind a book. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. Fig.: To oblige, restrain, or hold, by authority, law, duty, promise, vow, affection, or other moral tie; as, to bind the conscience; to bind by kindness; bound by affection; commerce binds nations to each other. [ 1913 Webster ]

Who made our laws to bind us, not himself. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. (Law) (a) To bring (any one) under definite legal obligations; esp. under the obligation of a bond or covenant. Abbott. (b) To place under legal obligation to serve; to indenture; as, to bind an apprentice; -- sometimes with out; as, bound out to service. [ 1913 Webster ]

To bind over, to put under bonds to do something, as to appear at court, to keep the peace, etc. --
To bind to, to contract; as, to bind one's self to a wife. --
To bind up in, to cause to be wholly engrossed with; to absorb in. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To fetter; tie; fasten; restrain; restrict; oblige. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. That which binds or ties. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Any twining or climbing plant or stem, esp. a hop vine; a bine. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Metal.) Indurated clay, when much mixed with the oxide of iron. Kirwan. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Mus.) A ligature or tie for grouping notes. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who binds; as, a binder of sheaves; one whose trade is to bind; as, a binder of books. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Anything that binds, as a fillet, cord, rope, or band; a bandage; -- esp. the principal piece of timber intended to bind together any building. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. a pair of stiff oblong covers, sometimes detachable, designed for insertion of paper pages to create a book-like document, such as in a loose-leaf binder. [ PJC ]

n. A place where books, or other articles, are bound; a bookbinder's establishment. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Bindheim, a German who analyzed it. ] (Min.) An amorphous antimonate of lead, produced from the alteration of other ores, as from jamesonite. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. That binds; obligatory. [ 1913 Webster ]

Binding beam (Arch.), the main timber in double flooring. --
Binding joist (Arch.), the secondary timber in double-framed flooring. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Obligatory; restraining; restrictive; stringent; astringent; costive; styptic. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act or process of one who, or that which, binds. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Anything that binds; a bandage; the cover of a book, or the cover with the sewing, etc.; something that secures the edge of cloth from raveling. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. pl. (Naut.) The transoms, knees, beams, keelson, and other chief timbers used for connecting and strengthening the parts of a vessel. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. So as to bind. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The condition or property of being binding; obligatory quality. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]