bound - Definition from Longman English Dictionary Online

Sense: 1-2, 4-5

Date:	1300-1400
Language:	Old French
Origin:	bodne, from Medieval Latin bodina

Sense: 3, 6

bound
4 noun

bound4

bounds

[plural]

a) the limits of what is possible or acceptable

within the bounds of something

We are here to make sure that the police operate within the bounds of the law.

be/go beyond the bounds of credibility/reason/decency etc

The humor in the movie sometimes goes beyond the bounds of good taste.

be within/beyond the bounds of possibility (=be possible/not possible)

It was not beyond the bounds of possibility that they could meet again.

b) old-fashioned the edges of a town, city etc

if a place is out of bounds, you are not allowed to go there [= off-limits American English]

out of bounds to/for

The path by the railway line is officially out of bounds to both cyclists and walkers.

British English if someone or something increases, develops etc by leaps and bounds, they increase etc very quickly:

Julie's reading is improving in leaps and bounds.

formal if someone's honesty, kindness etc knows no bounds, they are extremely honest etc

DS inside or outside the legal playing area in a sport such as American football or basketball

6 [countable] a long or high jump made with a lot of energy

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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bound⁴ noun