<B>bimorph, </B>noun, or <B>bimorph cell,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a rigid structure of two quartz or other crystals cemented together, and caused to bend when a potential makes one crystal expand and the other contract. A bimorph is used to activate loudspeakers and various electronic devices. </DL>
<A NAME="bin">
<B>bin, </B>noun, verb, <B>binned,</B> <B>binning.</B><DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>a box or enclosed place for holding or storing grain, coal, or similar things. <BR> <I>Ex. The baker emptied several bags of flour into a bin.</I> (SYN) crib. <DD><B> 2. </B>(British.) a dustbin (ashcan). <DD><B> 3. </B>(Slang.) <B>=loony bin.</B> <DD><I>v.t. </I> to place or store in a bin. </DL>
<A NAME="bin">
<B>bin-,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (prefix.) form of <B>bi-</B> before vowels, as in <I>binal.</I> </DL>
<B>binary coded decimal,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a system of coding numbers in binary units used in programming computers and in higher mathematics. Each decimal digit is represented by four binary digits. (Example:) 234 is represented in binary coded decimal by 0010 0011 0100. </DL>
<A NAME="binarycolor">
<B>binary color,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a color, such as orange, violet, or green, made by mixing two primary colors; secondary color. </DL>
<A NAME="binarycompound">
<B>binary compound,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (Chemistry.) a compound of two elements, or of an element and a radical, or of two radicals. </DL>
<A NAME="binarydigit">
<B>binary digit,</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>either of the digits 0 or 1 used in binary notation. <DD><B> 2. </B><B>=bit</B> (4). </DL>
<A NAME="binaryfission">
<B>binary fission,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> the division or splitting of a cell, especially a protozoan, into two equal parts. </DL>
<A NAME="binaryform">
<B>binary form,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (Music.) a movement based upon two subjects or one divided into two distinct or contrasted main sections. </DL>
<A NAME="binarygranite">
<B>binary granite,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a variety of granite composed of quartz and feldspar; aplite. </DL>
<A NAME="binarynotation">
<B>binary notation,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a system of counting (arithmetical notation) using only two symbols, 0 and 1, rather than the ordinary ten symbols, 0 to 9. Each digit (place value) is therefore written as 0 or 1 or some combination of 0 and 1. </DL>
<A NAME="binaryopposition">
<B>binary opposition,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (Linguistics.) a distinguishing or significant contrast between two speech components. <BR> <I>Ex. The existence of such a binary opposition as n:ng in English is proved by the use of such different pairs of words as kin and king ... winning and winging. Clearly n and ng ... are two phonemes in English (Simeon Potter).</I> </DL>
<B>binary star,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a pair of stars that revolve around a common center of gravity. Approximately 40,000 binary stars are now known. </DL>
<A NAME="binarysystem">
<B>binary system,</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B><B>=binary notation.</B> <DD><B> 2. </B><B>=binary star.</B> <DD><B> 3. </B>any chemical, mechanical, or electronic system having or based on two components. </DL>
<A NAME="binate">
<B>binate</B> (1), adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> growing in pairs; double. </DL>
<A NAME="binate">
<B>binate</B> (2), intransitive verb, <B>-nated,</B> <B>-nating.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> to say two Masses on the same day. noun <B>bination.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="binational">
<B>binational, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> of or dealing with two nations, their cultures, languages, policies, or other features. </DL>
<A NAME="binationalism">
<B>binationalism, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> the principle or policy of keeping a country bicultural and bilingual; biculturalism. </DL>
<A NAME="binaural">
<B>binaural, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>having to do with or using two speakers, or sources of sound reproduction or transmission, to give a three-dimensional auditory effect; stereophonic. <BR> <I>Ex. binaural broadcasting, binaural recording.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>of or for both ears. <BR> <I>Ex. a binaural stethoscope.</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>having two ears. adv. <B>binaurally.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="bind">
<B>bind, </B>verb, <B>bound,</B> <B>binding,</B> noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>v.t. </I> <B>1. </B>to tie together; hold together; fasten. <BR> <I>Ex. She bound the package with a tight rope. The packing case was bound with metal tape. The prisoners were bound in chains.</I> (SYN) connect, attach. <DD><B> 2. </B>to cause to stick together. <BR> <I>Ex. Tar will bind gravel or cinders.</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>to fasten (sheets of paper) into a cover; put a cover on (a book). <BR> <I>Ex. Those loose pages were bound into a small book.</I> <DD><B> 4. </B>to hold by some force; restrain. <BR> <I>Ex. Vines are binding the flowers and choking their growth. (Figurative.) The vow that binds too strictly snaps itself (Tennyson).</I> <DD><B> 5. </B>(Figurative.) to hold by a promise, love, duty, or law; oblige. <BR> <I>Ex. A doctor is in duty bound to help the sick.</I> (SYN) obligate, constrain. <DD><B> 6. </B>to put under legal obligation. <BR> <I>Ex. Parents are bound to send their children to school. He was bound over to keep the peace.</I> <DD><B> 7. </B>to put under legal obligation to serve as an apprentice. <BR> <I>Ex. I have bound him out to be a shoemaker (Sir Richard Steele).</I> <DD><B> 8. </B>to make (a bargain, contract, or other arrangement) final so that it must be carried out. <BR> <I>Ex. A ten dollar deposit bound the bargain.</I> <DD><B> 9. </B>to put a bandage on. <BR> <I>Ex. The nurse will bind up your cut.</I> <DD><B> 10. </B>to put a band or wreath around; gird; encircle. <BR> <I>Ex. a fillet binds her hair (Alexander Pope).</I> <DD><B> 11. </B>to put a border or edge on to strengthen or ornament. <BR> <I>Ex. She bound the sleeves of her dress with red ribbon.</I> <DD><B> 12. </B><B>=constipate.</B> <DD><I>v.i. </I> <B>1a. </B>to stick together. <BR> <I>Ex. The gravel and cinders will not bind without tar.</I> <DD><B> b. </B>to become stuck fast; jam. <BR> <I>Ex. The piston will bind without oil.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>to compel morally or legally; have compelling force. <BR> <I>Ex. A contract always binds.</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>(British Slang.) to complain. <DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>anything that binds or ties; band; tie. <DD><B> 2. </B>(Music.) a tie; slur. <DD><B> 3. </B>a twining or climbing plant stem. <DD><B> 4. </B>(Especially U.S. Informal.) a difficult situation; dilemma; predicament. <BR> <I>Ex. They are anxious to avoid an embarrassing and awkward bind (Wall Street Journal).</I> <BR><I>expr. <B>bind oneself to,</B> </I>to agree to (something); establish an association with. <BR> <I>Ex. A landed proprietor may bind himself to a future payment (Thomas Chalmers).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="binder">
<B>binder, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a person who binds books. <DD><B> 2. </B>anything that ties or holds together. <BR> <I>Ex. Tar is used as a binder on some gravel roads.</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>a cover for a loose-leaf notebook. <DD><B> 4. </B>a machine that cuts stalks of grain and ties them in bundles. <DD><B> 5. </B>(U.S.) a written agreement or amount of money given as a pledge to carry out some obligation. <DD><B> 6. </B>the inner wrapper of a cigar, used to hold the filler in shape. </DL>
<A NAME="binder">
<B>binder</B> or <B>binder's twine,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a strong cord with a rough surface. </DL>
<A NAME="bindery">
<B>bindery, </B>noun, pl. <B>-eries.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> a place where books are bound; bookbindery. </DL>
<A NAME="binding">
<B>binding, </B>noun, adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>the covering of a book. <DD><B> 2. </B>a strip protecting or ornamenting an edge. Binding is used on the seams of dresses. <DD><B> 3. </B>the set of fastenings on a ski, usually consisting of a metal piece into which the toe slips, a strap, and a spring that grasps the heel. <DD><B> 4. </B>a band of masonry and brickwork. <DD><I>adj. </I> <B>1. </B>that binds, fastens, or connects. <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) having force or power to hold to a promise, duty, or law; obligatory. A contract is a binding agreement. <DD><B> 3. </B>constricting; astringent; styptic. adv. <B>bindingly.</B> noun <B>bindingness.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="bindingenergy">
<B>binding energy,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> the energy necessary to break a molecule, atom, or nucleus into its smaller component parts. </DL>
<A NAME="bindle">
<B>bindle, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (U.S. Slang.) a bundle of clothing, toilet articles, or other possessions, usually tied to a stick which a hobo carries over his shoulder. </DL>
<B>bindweed, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a plant with long stems that twine around fences, trees, or other plants. It belongs to the morning-glory family. </DL>
<A NAME="bine">
<B>bine, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>a twining, slender stem of a climbing plant, especially of the hop. <DD><B> 2. </B>any bindweed. <DD><B> 3. </B><B>=woodbine </B>(defs. 1, 3). <DD><B> 4. </B>any one of several varieties of the hop. </DL>
<A NAME="binetsimontest">
<B>Binet-Simon test</B> or <B>scale,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> an individual intelligence test first published in 1905 and subsequently revised, used in schools, the armed forces, and other institutions, for determining the mental age of children or adults by means of their performance of tasks and answers to questions. </DL>
<A NAME="binettest">
<B>Binet test</B> or <B>scale, =Binet-Simon test.</B></DL>
<A NAME="bing">
<B>bing</B> (1), noun, verb, adverb, interjection.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> a sharp, ringing sound. <DD><I>v.i. </I> to make such a sound. <DD><I>adv. </I> with such a sound. <DD><I>interj. </I> the sound itself. </DL>
<A NAME="bing">
<B>bing</B> (2), noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (North English Dialect.) a heap or pile. </DL>
<A NAME="binge">
<B>binge, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Informal.) <DD><B> 1. </B>a heavy drinking bout; drunken spree. <DD><B> 2. </B>a bout or spree of indulging in anything. </DL>
