That which binds, ties,
fastens, or confines, or by which anything is fastened or bound, as a cord,
chain, etc.; a band; a ligament; a shackle or a manacle.
The state of being bound;
imprisonment; captivity, restraint.
A binding force or influence; a cause of union;
a uniting tie; as, the bonds of fellowship.
Moral or political duty or obligation.
A writing under seal, by which a
person binds himself, his heirs, executors, and administrators, to pay a
certain sum on or before a future day appointed. This is a single
bond. But usually a condition is added, that, if the obligor shall do a
certain act, appear at a certain place, conform to certain rules,
faithfully perform certain duties, or pay a certain sum of money, on or
before a time specified, the obligation shall be void; otherwise it shall
remain in full force. If the condition is not performed, the bond becomes
forfeited, and the obligor and his heirs are liable to the payment of the
whole sum.
An instrument (of the nature of the ordinary
legal bond) made by a government or a corporation for purpose of borrowing
money; as, a government, city, or railway bond.
The state of goods placed in a bonded warehouse
till the duties are paid; as, merchandise in bond.
The union or tie of the several
stones or bricks forming a wall. The bricks may be arranged for this
purpose in several different ways, as in English or block
bond (Fig. 1), where one course consists of bricks with their ends
toward the face of the wall, called headers, and the next course of
bricks with their lengths parallel to the face of the wall, called
stretchers; Flemish bond (Fig.2), where each course consists
of headers and stretchers alternately, so laid as always to break joints;
Cross bond, which differs from the English by the change of the
second stretcher line so that its joints come in the middle of the first,
and the same position of stretchers comes back every fifth line;
Combined cross and English bond, where the inner part of the wall is
laid in the one method, the outer in the other.
A unit of chemical attraction;
as, oxygen has two bonds of affinity. It is often represented in
graphic formulæ by a short line or dash. See Diagram of
Benzene nucleus, and Valence.
In celebration of Noah Webster's Birthday (October 16, 2009), we have prepared an updated website. 
