# bonding

/ˈbɑndɪŋ/ (US) · /bˈɒndɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bonding
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. emotional connection

noun · CEFR B2

the process of developing a strong feeling of love, trust, or friendship with another person.

For teachers: the formation of a close relationship through shared experiences or biological attachment, such as between parent and child.

- The weekend camping trip was a great opportunity for father-son bonding.
- Psychologists emphasise that early skin-to-skin contact is crucial for the biological bonding process between a mother and her newborn infant.

### 2. joining materials

noun · CEFR B2

the act of sticking or joining two things together firmly.

For teachers: the physical process of adhering or fastening two surfaces or substances together.

- The glue provides a strong bonding between the wood and the plastic.
- The structural integrity of the aircraft depends on the chemical bonding of the composite materials used in the fuselage.

### 3. network aggregation

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

combining several internet or network connections to make one faster, stronger connection.

For teachers: the method of aggregating multiple physical network interfaces into a single logical link to increase throughput or provide redundancy.

- We used network bonding to ensure the office internet stayed fast even if one cable failed.
- By implementing NIC bonding, the server administrator achieved both load balancing and fault tolerance across the local area network.

### 4. customs storage

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

keeping goods in a special warehouse until the necessary taxes are paid.

For teachers: the arrangement where imported goods are held in a secure warehouse under government supervision until duties are settled.

- The wine was kept in bonding until the importer could pay the customs duty.
- The shipment remained in bonding for three weeks while the legal dispute regarding the tariff classification was resolved.

## Examples

- Cooking together is a great way for family bonding.
- The weekend retreat was designed to encourage team bonding among the new employees through various outdoor activities.
- While physical proximity is necessary, true emotional bonding requires a level of vulnerability and mutual trust that typically develops only over an extended period of consistent interaction.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.