The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Bind \Bind\, v. t. [imp. Bound; p. p. Bound, formerly
   Bounden; p. pr. & vb. n. Binding.] [AS. bindan, perfect
   tense band, bundon, p. p. bunden; akin to D. & G. binden,
   Dan. binde, Sw. & Icel. binda, Goth. bindan, Skr. bandh (for
   bhandh) to bind, cf. Gr. ? (for ?) cable, and L. offendix.
   [root]90.]
   1. To tie, or confine with a cord, band, ligature, chain,
      etc.; to fetter; to make fast; as, to bind grain in
      bundles; to bind a prisoner.
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   2. To confine, restrain, or hold by physical force or
      influence of any kind; as, attraction binds the planets to
      the sun; frost binds the earth, or the streams.
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            He bindeth the floods from overflowing. --Job
                                                  xxviii. 11.
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            Whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years.
                                                  --Luke xiii.
                                                  16.
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   3. To cover, as with a bandage; to bandage or dress; --
      sometimes with up; as, to bind up a wound.
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   4. To make fast ( a thing) about or upon something, as by
      tying; to encircle with something; as, to bind a belt
      about one; to bind a compress upon a part.
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   5. To prevent or restrain from customary or natural action;
      as, certain drugs bind the bowels.
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   6. To protect or strengthen by a band or binding, as the edge
      of a carpet or garment.
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   7. To sew or fasten together, and inclose in a cover; as, to
      bind a book.
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   8. Fig.: To oblige, restrain, or hold, by authority, law,
      duty, promise, vow, affection, or other moral tie; as, to
      bind the conscience; to bind by kindness; bound by
      affection; commerce binds nations to each other.
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            Who made our laws to bind us, not himself. --Milton.
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   9. (Law)
      (a) To bring (any one) under definite legal obligations;
          esp. under the obligation of a bond or covenant.
          --Abbott.
      (b) To place under legal obligation to serve; to
          indenture; as, to bind an apprentice; -- sometimes
          with out; as, bound out to service.
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   To bind over, to put under bonds to do something, as to
      appear at court, to keep the peace, etc.

   To bind to, to contract; as, to bind one's self to a wife.


   To bind up in, to cause to be wholly engrossed with; to
      absorb in.
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   Syn: To fetter; tie; fasten; restrain; restrict; oblige.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Bind \Bind\, n.
   1. That which binds or ties.
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   2. Any twining or climbing plant or stem, esp. a hop vine; a
      bine.
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   3. (Metal.) Indurated clay, when much mixed with the oxide of
      iron. --Kirwan.
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   4. (Mus.) A ligature or tie for grouping notes.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Bind \Bind\, v. i.
   1. To tie; to confine by any ligature.
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            They that reap must sheaf and bind.   --Shak.
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   2. To contract; to grow hard or stiff; to cohere or stick
      together in a mass; as, clay binds by heat. --Mortimer.
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   3. To be restrained from motion, or from customary or natural
      action, as by friction.
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   4. To exert a binding or restraining influence. --Locke.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

bind
    n 1: something that hinders as if with bonds
    v 1: stick to firmly; "Will this wallpaper adhere to the wall?"
         [syn: adhere, hold fast, bond, bind, stick,
         stick to]
    2: create social or emotional ties; "The grandparents want to
       bond with the child" [syn: bind, tie, attach, bond]
    3: make fast; tie or secure, with or as if with a rope; "The
       Chinese would bind the feet of their women" [ant: unbind]
    4: wrap around with something so as to cover or enclose [syn:
       bind, bandage]
    5: secure with or as if with ropes; "tie down the prisoners";
       "tie up the old newspapers and bring them to the recycling
       shed" [syn: tie down, tie up, bind, truss]
    6: bind by an obligation; cause to be indebted; "He's held by a
       contract"; "I'll hold you by your promise" [syn: oblige,
       bind, hold, obligate]
    7: provide with a binding; "bind the books in leather"
    8: fasten or secure with a rope, string, or cord; "They tied
       their victim to the chair" [syn: tie, bind] [ant:
       unbrace, unlace, untie]
    9: form a chemical bond with; "The hydrogen binds the oxygen"
    10: cause to be constipated; "These foods tend to constipate
        you" [syn: constipate, bind]

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (19 January 2023):

Berkeley Internet Name Domain
BIND

    (BIND) An implementation of a DNS server
   developed and distributed by the University of California at
   Berkeley.

   Many Internet hosts run BIND, and it is the ancestor of
   many commercial implementations.

   (1997-12-15)