/ baʊnd; NAmE / adjective , verb , noun
—see also bind verb
■ adjective [ not before noun ]
1.
bound to do / be sth certain or likely to happen, or to do or be sth :
There are bound to be changes when the new system is introduced.
It's bound to be sunny again tomorrow.
You've done so much work—you're bound to pass the exam.
It was bound to happen sooner or later (= we should have expected it) .
You're bound to be nervous the first time (= it's easy to understand) .
➡ note at certain
2.
bound (by sth) | bound (by sth) (to do sth) forced to do sth by law, duty or a particular situation :
We are not bound by the decision.
You are bound by the contract to pay before the end of the month.
( BrE , formal )
I am bound to say I disagree with you on this point.
3.
(in compounds) prevented from going somewhere or from working normally by the conditions mentioned :
Strike-bound travellers face long delays.
fogbound airports
4.
bound (for ... ) (also in compounds) travelling, or ready to travel, in a particular direction or to a particular place :
homeward bound (= going home)
a plane bound for Dublin
Paris-bound
northbound / southbound / eastbound / westbound
•
IDIOMS
- be bound up in sth
- bound and determined
- be bound together by / in sth
- bound up with sth
- I'll be bound
—more at honour noun
■ verb
1.
[ v + adv. / prep. ] to run with long steps, especially in an enthusiastic way :
The dogs bounded ahead.
2.
[ vn ] [ usually passive ] ( formal ) to form the edge or limit of an area :
The field was bounded on the left by a wood.
■ noun
( formal ) a high or long jump
—see also bounds
•
IDIOMS
see leap noun
••
WORD ORIGIN
verb sense 1 and noun early 16th cent. (as a noun): from French bond (noun), bondir (verb) resound, later rebound, from late Latin bombitare , from Latin bombus humming.
verb sense 2 Middle English (in the senses landmark and borderland ): from Old French bodne , from medieval Latin bodina , earlier butina , of unknown ultimate origin.
adjective sense 4 Middle English boun (in the sense ready, dressed ), from Old Norse búinn , past participle of búa get ready; the final -d is euphonic, or influenced by other adjective senses of bound .