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bound2

Syllabification: (bound)
Pronunciation: /bound/

Translate bound | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of bound

noun

(often bounds)
  • a territorial limit; a boundary:the ancient bounds of the forest
  • a limitation or restriction on feeling or action:it is not beyond the bounds of possibility that the issue could arise again enthusiasm to join the union knew no bounds
  • technical a limiting value.

verb

[with object] (usually be bounded)
  • form the boundary of; enclose:the ground was bounded by a main road on one side and a meadow on the other
  • place within certain limits; restrict:freedom of action is bounded by law

Phrases

in bounds

Sports inside the regular playing area.

out of bounds

Sports outside the regular playing area:he hit his third shot out of bounds at the 17th
(of a place) outside the limits of where one is permitted to be:his kitchen was out of bounds to me at mealtimes
beyond what is acceptable:Paul felt that this conversation was getting out of bounds

Origin:

Middle English (in the senses 'landmark' and 'borderland'): from Old French bodne, from medieval Latin bodina, earlier butina, of unknown ultimate origin

bound in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of bound in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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