bound
bound — verb
1. to move forward in a series of big, lively jumps.
to move forward in a series of big, lively jumps.
The puppy bounded across the wet grass toward Ravi's red ball.
bound across + place
A frightened deer bounded over the fence and into the road.
bound over + obstacle
After the bell rang, the children bounded down the stairs to lunch.
Hana bounded out of the shop when she heard the ice-cream truck.
The big dog bounded through shallow water beside the boys.
文法句型
bound across + [place]
bound over + [thing]
bound out of + [place]
用法筆記
Usually followed by a phrase showing direction or place. It paints a stronger, more energetic picture than the everyday verbs 'run' or 'jump', and is especially common for animals or excited people.
常見錯誤
2. to make the outer edge of an area, or to run along one side of it.
to make the outer edge of an area, or to run along one side of it.
The school yard is bounded by a brick wall and tall trees.
usually passive: be bounded by
A narrow river bounded the farm on its eastern side.
bound + area + on + side
The old map showed fields bounded by stone paths.
Our village is bounded on the north by low green hills.
The garden was bounded by wooden fences after the storm repairs.
文法句型
be bounded by + [thing]
bound + [area] on + [side]
用法筆記
Frequently passive, especially in geography or property descriptions. The subject is the place being enclosed, while the edge or limit usually follows 'by'. Distinguish this from sense 1, where something physically moves by jumping.
常見錯誤
3. past tense and past participle form of bind.
past tense and past participle form of bind.
Ravi bound the papers with blue string before the meeting.
past tense: bound + object + with
The nurse bound Mei's ankle after she fell on the steps.
The old books were bound in dark leather and gold cloth.
By noon, the workers had bound the boxes with plastic tape.
文法句型
bound + [thing] with + [material]
be bound in + [material]
用法筆記
This is the irregular past tense and past participle of 'bind'. It often appears in physical tying patterns such as 'bound the papers with string' and in passive descriptions of books or injuries.
常見錯誤
bound — noun
1. one strong leap that carries a person or animal forward or upward.
one strong leap that carries a person or animal forward or upward.
The deer cleared the fence in one bound and vanished into the trees.
in one bound: with a single jump
Zara made a bound from the rock to the dry bank.
make a bound + from ... to ...
The dog crossed the stream with a bound and shook off water.
One bound took Ravi over the fallen branch on the path.
The horse came over the low gate in a smooth bound.
文法句型
in one bound
with a bound
make a bound
用法筆記
Often appears in phrases like in one bound or with a bound, especially in vivid descriptions of fast movement by animals or people.
常見錯誤
2. the point beyond which law, rules, or accepted behaviour should not go.
the point beyond which law, rules, or accepted behaviour should not go.
The judge said the protest stayed within the bounds of the law.
within the bounds of the law
Jokes about her accent went beyond the bounds of good manners.
beyond the bounds of + behaviour standard
Even angry parents must keep their words within reasonable bounds.
The article pushed the bounds of public debate by naming local teenagers.
The manager's midnight calls were outside the bounds of normal office behavior.
- limit
the most general word for the farthest acceptable point
- boundary
often more physical, though it can be social too
- restriction
emphasises a rule that actively holds something back
文法句型
within the bounds of X
beyond the bounds of X
outside the bounds of X
用法筆記
Usually plural in phrases like within the bounds of and beyond the bounds of. Common when judging what law or polite behaviour allows.
常見錯誤
bound — adjective
1. so likely that you can expect it to happen or prove true.
so likely that you can expect it to happen or prove true.
With black clouds over the harbour, the ferry is bound to leave late.
pattern: be bound to + infinitive
After three missed alarms, Ravi was bound to arrive after the meeting started.
That wet paint is bound to mark your coat if you lean there.
With so many fans outside, the singer was bound to notice the noise.
- certain
more neutral and common in general statements
- sure
slightly more conversational
- inevitable
stronger; suggests it cannot be avoided
文法句型
be bound to + infinitive
用法筆記
Almost always follows a form of 'be' and takes a to-infinitive. Distinguish from sense 4: this sense predicts what will happen, not what someone is required to do.
常見錯誤
2. required to act in a particular way because of law, an agreement, or a moral pro
required to act in a particular way because of law, an agreement, or a moral promise.
By law, the museum is bound to return the painting to the family.
legal duty: be bound to + infinitive
Our team is bound by contract to finish the bridge this year.
pattern: be bound by + noun
Judge Chen was bound to follow the rule, even in that sad case.
Because of her promise, Yara felt bound to visit her aunt every week.
- obliged
close in meaning, especially for duty
- required
more neutral and often used in rules
- duty-bound
stronger; stresses moral responsibility
- free
not required to do it
- unconstrained
more formal; without restriction
文法句型
be bound to + infinitive
be bound by + noun
用法筆記
Often appears in legal, formal, or promise-based contexts. Distinguish from sense 1: both can use 'bound to + verb', but this sense means obligation, not high probability.
常見錯誤
3. travelling, about to travel, or clearly moving toward a particular place, direct
travelling, about to travel, or clearly moving toward a particular place, direction, or future result.
The night bus is bound for Tainan after the last stop here.
be bound for + place
Three wet hikers stood by the road, bound for the mountain village.
With those grades, Noor is bound for medical school next year.
By noon, the fishing boats were bound south along the rocky coast.
Unless costs fall soon, the project looks bound for another delay.
文法句型
be bound for + place
be bound for + future result
用法筆記
With a destination, the usual pattern is 'bound for + place'. Distinguish this sense from adjective/1 CERTAIN: 'bound to' usually means something is very likely, not that it is travelling somewhere.
常見錯誤
4. firmly decided that you will do something, even if it is difficult.
firmly decided that you will do something, even if it is difficult.
Leila is bound and determined to open her bakery before winter.
fixed phrase: bound and determined
After the first failure, Omar stayed bound and determined to pass the exam.
The young coach sounded bound and determined to rebuild the team.
Priya came to city hall bound and determined to save the old market.
- determined
the closest everyday equivalent
- set on
more informal; often used before a goal
- resolved
slightly more formal
文法句型
be bound and determined to + infinitive
用法筆記
Now most often appears in the fixed phrase 'bound and determined'. Distinguish from sense 1 and sense 4: those usually use plain 'bound to' for likelihood or duty, not strong personal resolve.
常見錯誤
5. held tightly by rope, string, or something similar so that movement is limited.
held tightly by rope, string, or something similar so that movement is limited.
The guard found the driver bound to a chair with orange rope.
pattern: bound to + object
A goat stood bound near the gate while the farmer fixed the cart.
The stolen newspapers were bound in tight bundles with blue string.
During the play, Theo lay bound hand and foot on the stage.
文法句型
be bound to + object
bound hand and foot
用法筆記
Common in descriptions of people, animals, or objects physically tied in place. Distinguish from sense 6: this sense is about being tied, not about the cover of a book.
常見錯誤
6. used for a book whose pages are fixed inside a cover, often one made from a name
used for a book whose pages are fixed inside a cover, often one made from a named material.
The library keeps the oldest maps in bound volumes near the desk.
collocation: bound volume
A journal bound in leather lay open beside Hana's bed.
pattern: bound in + material
The museum displayed a prayer book bound in red cloth.
Our teacher showed us a bound copy of the school magazine.
- loose-leaf
with separate pages not fixed together
- unbound
not yet fixed into a cover
文法句型
bound in + material
bound volume
bound copy
用法筆記
Most often used before nouns like 'volume' or 'copy', or after a noun with 'bound in + material'. Distinguish from sense 5: here the pages are fixed into a cover, not tied up with rope.
7. used to say that you feel sure a guess or opinion is right.
used to say that you feel sure a guess or opinion is right.
Nadia's plate is sticky; she took the last mango, I'll be bound.
fixed phrase at clause end: I'll be bound
The football rolled there; those boys are hiding behind the shed, I'll be bound.
Mr. Sato is smiling at the quiz sheet; he knows the answer, I'll be bound.
The dog is wagging at the gate; it heard Bao, I'll be bound.
- maybe
shows uncertainty instead of confidence
文法句型
I'll be bound
用法筆記
Used as a fixed spoken expression, usually 'I'll be bound', often after a guess. Distinguish from sense 1: this is the speaker's personal opinion, not a neutral prediction.
bound — suffix
1. joined to a direction or destination word to describe a train, bus, flight, road
joined to a direction or destination word to describe a train, bus, flight, road, or other movement that is going that way.
We boarded the eastbound train just before sunrise in Tainan.
direction word + -bound: eastbound train
An Oslo-bound flight was delayed by heavy snow at the airport.
place name + -bound: Oslo-bound flight
Priya waved at the homebound bus outside the night market.
The westbound lane stayed closed after a truck hit the bridge.
A southbound coach left early with only six passengers aboard.
- heading for
a phrase used after a verb, not a compact adjective before a noun.
- going to
plain wording that does not form the same compound adjective pattern.
文法句型
place/direction + -bound -> adjective
用法筆記
Usually built from direction words and place names, especially for transport routes and journeys. Longer destination compounds are often hyphenated.
常見錯誤
2. added to a place or condition word to mean someone cannot get away from that pla
added to a place or condition word to mean someone cannot get away from that place because of illness, weather, or another bad situation.
Heavy fog kept three ferries weather-bound at the harbour all morning.
cause + -bound: weather-bound
After her fall, Mrs. Ito became housebound for nearly two months.
place + -bound for restricted movement
The children were snowbound in the mountain cabin for four days.
A broken leg left Yusuf bed-bound through the whole exam week.
A stroke left Mr. Ndlovu wheelchair-bound for the rest of winter.
文法句型
place/condition + -bound -> adjective
用法筆記
Common bases name the place or cause that traps someone: housebound, bed-bound, snowbound, weather-bound. Most compounds describe restriction caused by circumstances, not a chosen stay.
常見錯誤
3. joined to a material or fastening word to form an adjective for books with that
joined to a material or fastening word to form an adjective for books with that kind of cover or binding.
The library keeps a leather-bound Bible in a glass case.
material + -bound for book cover
Hana gave me a spiral-bound notebook for sketching on the train.
method + -bound for fastening style
A cloth-bound dictionary sat beside the lamp in Grandpa's study.
The printer delivered a wire-bound workbook for the evening class.
Noa found a paper-bound guidebook in the seat pocket.
文法句型
material/method + -bound -> adjective for books
用法筆記
Mostly used with books and notebooks. The base names either the outer material (leather-bound, cloth-bound) or the fastening style (spiral-bound, wire-bound).
常見錯誤
4. joined to a material word to form an adjective for items that have that material
joined to a material word to form an adjective for items that have that material around the edge.
The tailor showed us a fur-bound cape from the winter play.
material + -bound for decorative edging
Mei wore a ribbon-bound hat to the school festival parade.
edge trim on clothing or accessories
A velvet-bound cushion lay on the old wooden bench.
The shop window displayed lace-bound gloves for the wedding season.
文法句型
material + -bound -> adjective for trimmed edges
用法筆記
Usually describes decorative trim on clothing, soft furnishings, or small objects. The base names the material around the edge, not the whole object.