bind

1 a difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape with our vacation week fast approaching, and no arrangements for the care of our pets, we were in a serious bind Synonyms predicament, box, catch-22, corner, dilemma, fix, hole, impasse, jackpot [chiefly West], jam, mire, pickle, quagmire, rabbit hole, rattrap, spot, sticky wicket, swampRelated Words difficulty, node; hot water, soup; pinch, plight, quandary, scrape, trouble; deadlock, halt, logjam, stalemate, standstill; clutch, crisis, crossroad, emergency, exigency, juncture, strait

2 something that physically prevents free movement the burglar was held in a makeshift bind until the law officers could arrive Synonyms band, bond, bracelet, chain, cuff(s), fetter, handcuff(s), irons, ligature, manacle(s), shackleRelated Words captivity, confinement, constraint, curb, enchainment, enslavement, hindrance, immurement, imprisonment, incarceration, restraint, restriction; entanglement, net, trammel, trap; collar, straitjacket (also straightjacket); fastener, hobble, hold, hold-down, holding, tie

1 to confine or restrain with or as if with chains prisons tend to bind convicted criminals for transport Synonyms chain, enchain, enfetter, fetter, gyve, handcuff, manacle, pinion, shackle, trammel Related Words bit, hobble, hog-tie, iron, lash, secure, tie, truss; attach, fasten, join, link; confine, constrain, curb, hamper, hinder, impede; limit, restrict; entangle, tangle Near Antonyms emancipate, free, liberate, loose, release, rescue; undo, unfasten, untangle, untie; detach, disengage Antonyms unbind, unfetter, unshackle

2 to cover with a bandage bind the wound to stop the bleeding Synonyms bandage, dress, swatheRelated Words attend, care (for), doctor, medicate, minister (to), nurse, treat; cure, heal, mend, rehabilitate, remedyNear Antonyms unbandage

3 to gather into a tight mass by means of a line or cord bind the asparagus spears carefully before packing the bunches Synonyms band, tie, trussRelated Words cinch, cord, rope, strap, thread, wire; gird, girt; lash, leash, tether; interlace, intertwine, interweave, lace; entangle, knot, snarl, tangle, twist; coil, windNear Antonyms undo, unfasten, unlace, unlash, unloose, unloosen, unstrap, unstring, unthread; unleash, untether; disentangle, unravel, unsnarl, untangle, untwine, untwist; uncoil, unspool, unwindAntonyms unbind, untie