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bond

Pronunciation: /bɒnd/

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

noun

  • 1a thing used to tie something or to fasten things together:she brushed back a curl which had strayed from its bonds
  • (bonds) ropes, chains, or other restraints used to hold someone prisoner: he stooped over the trussed man and tested his bonds
  • a force or feeling that unites people; a shared emotion or interest:there was a bond of understanding between them
  • 2an agreement with legal force, in particular:
  • Law a deed by which a person is committed to make payment to another.
  • South African term for mortgage.
  • a certificate issued by a government or a public company promising to repay borrowed money at a fixed rate of interest at a specified time.
  • an insurance policy held by a company, which protects against losses resulting from circumstances such as bankruptcy.
  • US a sum of money paid as bail.
  • 3 (also chemical bond) a strong force of attraction holding atoms together in a molecule or crystal, resulting from the sharing or transfer of electrons: each carbon atom uses three electrons to form bonds with the adjacent atoms
  • 4 [with modifier] Building a pattern in which bricks are laid in order to ensure the strength of the resulting structure: stretcher bond

verb

  • 1join or be joined securely to something else, especially by means of an adhesive substance, heat, or pressure: [with object]:press the material to bond the layers together [no object]:this material will bond well to stainless steel rods (as adjective bonding)a bonding agent
  • [no object] establish a relationship or link with someone based on shared feelings, interests, or experiences:the failure to properly bond with their children (as noun modifier bonding)the film has some great male bonding scenes
  • 2join or be joined by a chemical bond: [no object]:neutral molecules bond to the central atom
  • 3 [with object] (usually as adjective bonding) lay (bricks) in an overlapping pattern so as to form a strong structure:a bonding course
  • 4 (usually as noun bonding) place (dutiable goods) in bond: they want the introduction of bonding to guarantee that consignments will be properly handled

Phrases

in bond

(of dutiable goods) stored in a bonded warehouse until the importer pays the duty owing.

Origin:

Middle English: variant of band1

bond in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of bond in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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