How do you pronounce bound?

The recorded pronunciation is /ˈbaʊ̯nd/.

Where does bound come from?

It is traced to Middle English.

bound

/ˈbaʊ̯nd/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.46 in modern English

Syllables: bound
IPA: /ˈbaʊ̯nd/

Scrabble Score

Letters

Syllables

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

simple past and past participle of bind

adj

Obliged (to).

adj

That cannot stand alone as a free word.

adj

Constrained by a quantifier.

adj

Constipated; costive.

Dated

adj

Confined or restricted to a certain place.

adj

Unable to move in certain conditions.

adj

Ready, prepared.

Obsolete

Example Sentences

"I bound the splint to my leg."
"I had bound the splint with duct tape."
"The maidens have bound silver snoods about their hair, with gold spangles, and pendent flames (Flammen), that is, sparkling hair-drops : but of their mother's headgear who shall speak?"
"“[…] Captain Markam had been found lying half-insensible, gagged and bound, on the floor of the sitting-room, his hands and feet tightly pinioned, and a woollen comforter wound closely round his mouth and neck ; whilst Mrs. Markham's jewel-case, containing valuable jewellery and the secret plans of Port Arthur, had disappeared.[…]”"
"You are not legally bound to reply."
"Well, it isn't for me to say. I'm an employee of the firm and bound to stand by it."

Etymology

From Middle English bound, bund (preterite) and bounden, bunden, ibunden, ȝebunden (past participle), from Old English bund- and bunden, ġebunden respectively. See bind.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: bound, *bʰuH-, bownde, búinn, bounde, bunne

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈbaʊ̯nd/
British English: /ˈbaʊ̯nd/

Usage

Inflected Forms

bownd (alternative, archaic) more bound (comparative) most bound (superlative) bounds (plural) bounds (present, singular) bounding (participle, present) bounded (participle, past) bounded (past)

Derived Forms

airbound antibound awebound barkbound bedbound boatbound boundation boundness boundstone brassbound browbound calfbound

Phrases

bound bailiff bound entropy bound form bound morpheme bound property bound state bound termineme bound up

Frequently Paired Words

bondage bonded labour bondsman data-bound early-bound tie that binds bound to I'll be bound

Synonyms

lollop destined apprenticed articled indentured bandaged leap leaping spring saltation bounce

Antonyms

free

Rhymes With

around found ground sound round 'round pound wound renowned profound lb surround