To tie; to confine by any ligature.
What is bind?
• To cohere or stick together in a mass.
• To be restrained from motion, or from customary or natural action, as by friction.
• To exert a binding or restraining influence.
• To tie or fasten tightly together, with a cord, band, ligature, chain, etc.
• To confine, restrain, or hold by physical force or influence of any kind.
• To couple.
• To oblige, restrain, or hold, by authority, law, duty, promise, vow, affection, or other social tie.
• To put (a person) under definite legal obligations, especially, under the obligation of a bond or covenant.
• To place under legal obligation to serve.
• To protect or strengthen by applying a band or binding, as the edge of a carpet or garment.
• To make fast (a thing) about or upon something, as by tying; to encircle with something.
• To cover, as with a bandage.
• To prevent or restrain from customary or natural action, as by producing constipation.
• To put together in a cover, as of books.
• To make two or more elements stick together.
• To associate an identifier with a value; to associate a variable name, method name, etc. with the content of a storage location.
• To process one or more object modules into an executable program.
• To complain; to whine about something.
• To wear a binder so as to flatten one's chest to give the appearance of a flat chest, usually done by trans men.
(Noun) That which binds or ties.
• A troublesome situation; a problem; a predicament or quandary.
• Any twining or climbing plant or stem, especially a hop vine; a bine.
• A ligature or tie for grouping notes.
• A strong grip or stranglehold on a position, which is difficult for the opponent to break.
• The indurated clay of coal mines, or other overlying substances such as sandstone or shale.
Why bind matters
bind appears in U.S. legal practice across multiple practice areas. Knowing what it means — and when it applies — can determine the outcome of motions, filings, and negotiations. For non-lawyers, the value of looking up a precise definition is that legal terms often carry meanings that differ from everyday usage; relying on the common meaning can lead to costly missteps.
How bind works in practice
In practice, bind is invoked when parties, judges, or attorneys need to identify the legal status of an issue, the rights of those involved, or the procedural step required next. The definition shown above is sourced from Wiktionary , which is widely cited in U.S. legal practice. Because U.S. law is jurisdictionally layered — federal, state, and sometimes local — the precise application of the term can vary by court, so check the controlling authority for your specific case.