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bind up

B2 neutral separable transitive
In simple words

To wrap something up tight to hold it together or protect it, or to be closely connected to something.

Literal meaning: To bind (tie/wrap) in an upward or tight direction.

Meanings

1 B2 neutral

To wrap a wound or injured area tightly with a bandage or cloth.

"The nurse bound up his injured knee before helping him to hobble to the first-aid room."

Grammar: separable
2 B2 neutral

To tie or secure a bundle of things tightly together.

"She bound up the old letters with a piece of ribbon and put them back in the drawer."

Grammar: separable
3 B2 idiomatic neutral

(Often passive: 'bound up in/with') To be deeply connected to or emotionally involved in something.

"Her whole sense of self was bound up in her career as a surgeon."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

The 'wound' sense is slightly old-fashioned; modern speakers might say 'bandage up'. The figurative sense ('bound up in/with') is common and describes deep emotional or logical connection: 'his identity is bound up with his work'.

Commonly used with

wound injury hair identity fate feelings

Forms

Base
bind up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
binds up
he/she/it
Past simple
binded up
yesterday
Past participle
binded up
have + pp
-ing form
binding up
continuous

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