bind
v.v. to tie or fasten things together tightly. It can also mean to create a strong legal or emotional connection between people.
v. to tie or fasten tightly; to impose a legal or moral obligation upon a person or party. Takes a direct object and often occurs in the passive voice to describe a state of obligation.
The contract will bind both companies to the agreement.
The chef used kitchen twine to bind the meat before roasting it to ensure it cooked evenly.
In many ancient cultures, shared rituals served to bind the community together, creating a sense of collective identity that was essential for survival in harsh environments.
The verb is transitive and often takes the preposition 'to'. The past tense and past participle form is 'bound'.
The contract binds with themThe contract binds themWhen meaning to legally obligate, the verb is transitive and does not require 'with' before the object.