bond

noun

• 1 (bonds) physical restraints used to hold someone or something prisoner, especially ropes or chains.
• a thing used to tie something or to fasten things together:she brushed back a curl that had strayed from its bonds figurativechaos could result if the bonds of obedience and loyalty were broken
• adhesiveness; ability of two objects to stick to each other:a total lack of effective bond between the concrete and the steel
• a force or feeling that unites people; a common 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.
• 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 or misconduct by employees.
• 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.

• 4 [with modifier] Building any of the various patterns in which bricks are conventionally laid in order to ensure the strength of the resulting structure. See English bond, Flemish bond.

• 5short for bond paper.

verb

• 1join or be joined securely to something else, typically 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 with someone based on shared feelings, interests, or experiences:the failure to properly bond with their children the team has bonded together well (as noun bonding)the film has some great male bonding scenes

• 2join or be joined by a chemical bond.

• 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.