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re·bound¹

(rēbound, rĭ-)

v. re·bound·ed, re·bound·ing, re·bounds

v.intr.

1. To spring or bounce back after hitting or colliding with something.

2. To recover, as from depression or disappointment.

3. To reecho; resound.

4. Basketball To retrieve and gain possession of the ball as it bounces off the backboard or rim after an unsuccessful shot.

v.tr.

1. To cause to rebound.

2. Basketball To gain possession of (the ball) off the backboard or rim.

n. (rēbound′, rĭ-bound)

1. A springing or bounding back; a recoil.

a. Sports A rebounding or caroming ball or hockey puck, especially coming off of a goalie who has blocked a shot.

b. Basketball The act or an instance of taking possession of a rebounding ball.

3. A quick recovery from or reaction to disappointment or depression: He is on the rebound following a tumultuous breakup.

[Middle English rebounden, from Old French rebondir : re-, re- + bondir, to leap; see BOUND¹.]

re·bounder n.

re·bound²

(rē-bound)

Past tense and past participle of rebind.

re·bind

(rē-bīnd)

tr.v. re·bound (-bound), re·bind·ing, re·binds

To bind again, especially to put a new binding on (a book).

n. (rēbīnd′)

A book that has been rebound.

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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