bonding
Americannoun
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Psychology, Animal Behavior.
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a relationship that usually begins at the time of birth between a parent and offspring and that establishes the basis for an ongoing mutual attachment.
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the establishment of a pair bond.
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a close friendship that develops between adults, often as a result of intense experiences, as those shared in military combat.
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Dentistry. a technique or procedure for restoring the discolored or damaged surface of a tooth by coating it with a highly durable resinous material that adheres to the existing enamel.
noun
Etymology
Origin of bonding
First recorded in 1670–80, for an earlier sense; bond 1 + -ing 1
Explanation
Bonding is what happens when you develop a close emotional connection with another person, or when two things are fastened together. Touching your tongue to a frozen flagpole is one way of bonding, though this is not recommended. When a baby hippo in the zoo snuggles up to her mother, bonding is happening. And though it may not seem like it, even sitting for hours in the backseat with your annoying little brother is a kind of bonding, or building a relationship through constant contact. In addition to this emotional bonding, there's a physical kind of bonding, like when you superglue a quarter to the floor to trick your little brother.
Vocabulary lists containing bonding
Vocabulary from the Introduction to "Reality is Broken" by Jane McGonigal
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Half a World Away
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for March 16–March 22, 2024
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Junior US Open champion Mika Stojsavljevic won the under-18 girls' title at the National Championships, while Oliver Bonding claimed the boys' event.
From BBC • Apr. 21, 2025
Bonding comes of that collective loosening, from the mutual decision that two or more people make to let go, even a little, in each other’s presence.
From New York Times • Jun. 15, 2024
Bonding chiplets tightly together can help make more powerful systems without shrinking the transistor size as the multiple chips can work like one brain.
From Reuters • Jul. 13, 2023
Regional Contractor Development and Bonding Program, which provides financial tools and guidance to help small and disadvantaged companies compete for government contracts.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 10, 2023
“Brother Apunda is getting older, and he needs help overseeing temple maintenance, especially with the Bonding coming up in two months...”
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
