bind·ing  (b īn d ĭng)
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n.1. The action of one that binds: glue for the binding of pieces of plastic pipe. 2. Something that binds or is used as a binder. 3. a. The manner in which the pages of a book are joined and held together: Is the binding of that book stitched or glued? b. The material that holds the pages of a book together, especially the cover: a book with a leather binding. 4. A strip of fabric or tape sewn or attached over or along an edge for protection, reinforcement, or ornamentation. 5. Sports The fastening on a ski or board for securing the boot, often releasing automatically to prevent injury. adj.1. Serving to bind: a binding protein. 2. Uncomfortably tight and confining. 3. Tending to cause constipation: foods that are binding. 4. Imposing or commanding adherence to a commitment, an obligation, or a duty: binding arbitration; a binding agreement.
binding·ly adv. binding·ness n. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2020 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices
Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:
Indo-European Roots
Semitic Roots
The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.
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