band
- 01 A1 Beginner
n.a group of people who play music together.
n.a group of musicians who perform together as an ensemble, typically in popular, jazz, or brass genres.
Simple“My brother plays the drums in a rock band with his friends.”
In context“The local jazz band performed every Saturday night at the cellar club, attracting a loyal following of enthusiasts from across the city.”
- 02 A2 Elementary
n.a thin, flat piece of material used to hold things together or as a decoration.
n.a thin, flat strip of flexible material used for binding, strengthening, or decorative purposes.
Simple“She used a rubber band to keep the loose papers together.”
In context“The designer added a gold band around the waist of the dress to provide a subtle contrast against the dark silk.”
- 03 B1 Intermediate
n.a small group of people who have the same goal or purpose.
n.a group of people loosely united for a common purpose or sharing a common identity.
Simple“A small band of volunteers worked all night to clean up the park.”
In context“A determined band of protesters gathered outside the embassy, demanding immediate changes to the international trade agreement.”
Antonyms - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a specific range of radio waves or light.
n.a designated range of frequencies or wavelengths within the electromagnetic spectrum.
Simple“The radio station broadcasts on the FM band.”
In context“The satellite operates on a high-frequency band to ensure that data transmission remains stable even during severe weather conditions.”
- 05 C1 Advanced
n.a slang word for one thousand dollars.
n.a slang term for a thousand dollars, originally referring to the paper strip used to wrap a stack of cash.
Simple“He spent a few bands on a new designer jacket.”
In context“The rapper bragged about having fifty bands in his pocket while standing in front of his new sports car.”
- 06 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to join with other people to do something as a group.
v.to form a group or confederacy for a common purpose; often used with 'together'.
Simple“The neighbors decided to band together to stop the new highway.”
In context“Local businesses banded together to create a marketing campaign that would encourage residents to shop on the high street.”
- 07 C1 Advanced
v.to put a small ring or strip around something, often to identify it.
v.to fasten a band around an object or animal, typically for identification or structural reinforcement.
Simple“Scientists band birds to track where they fly during the winter.”
In context“The researchers spent the afternoon banding the migratory geese before releasing them back into the wildlife sanctuary.”
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰendʰ-der. Proto-Germanic *bandiz Old English bend Middle English band English band Inherited from Middle English band (also bond), from Old English beand, bænd, bend (“bond, chain, fetter, band, ribbon, ornament, chaplet, crown”), from Proto-Germanic bandą, bandiz (“band, fetter”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰendʰ- (“to tie, bind”). Middle English band reinforced by Old French bande. Cognate with Dutch band, German Band, Danish bånd, Swedish band, Icelandic band (“band”). Related to bond, bind, bend.
Derived from Middle English band, from Old French bande, from Old Occitan banda (“regiment of troops”), perhaps from Frankish bend, from Proto-Germanic bandiz, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰendʰ- (“to tie; bond, band”). Compare German Bande (“band”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.