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band

[ band ]

/ bænd /

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See synonyms for: band / banded / banding / bands on Thesaurus.com

noun

a company of persons or, sometimes, animals or things, joined, acting, or functioning together; aggregation; party; troop: a band of protesters.

Music.

a group of instrumentalists playing music of a specialized type: rock band; calypso band; mariachi band.
a musical group, usually employing brass, percussion, and often woodwind instruments, that plays especially for marching or open-air performances.
big band.
dance band.

a division of a nomadic tribe; a group of individuals who move and camp together and subsist by hunting and gathering.

a group of persons living outside the law: a renegade band.

verb (used with object)

to unite in a troop, company, or confederacy.

verb (used without object)

to unite; confederate (often followed by together): They banded together to oust the chairman.

OTHER WORDS FOR band

1 gang, group; body; set; society, association, assembly.

See synonyms for band on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

GOOSES. GEESES. I WANT THIS QUIZ ON PLURAL NOUNS!

Test how much you really know about regular and irregular plural nouns with this quiz.

Question 1 of 9

Which of the following nouns has an irregular plural form?

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Idioms about band

to beat the band, Informal. energetically; abundantly: It rained all day to beat the band.

Origin of band

First recorded in 1480–90; from Middle French bande, from Italian banda; cognate with Medieval Latin banda (plural of bandum) “(military) standard,” equivalent to Latin signum, from Germanic; akin to Gothic bandwa “(military) standard, sign, token”; see band², band³, bend¹, bond¹

synonym study for band

1. See company.

Words nearby band

bancassurance, bancassurer, banco, Bancroft, Bancroft Prize, band, banda, Banda Aceh, bandage, Band-Aid, bandanna

Other definitions for band (2 of 3)

band²

[ band ]

/ bænd /

noun

a thin, flat strip of some material for binding, confining, trimming, protecting, etc.: a band on each bunch of watercress.

a fillet, belt, or strap: a band for the hair; a band for connecting pulleys.

a stripe, as of color or decorative work.

a strip of paper or other material serving as a label: a cigar band.

a plain or simply styled ring, without mounted gems or the like: a thin gold band on his finger.

(on a long-playing phonograph record) one of a set of grooves in which sound has been recorded, separated from an adjacent set or sets by grooves without recorded sound.

bands. Geneva bands.

a flat collar commonly worn by men and women in the 17th century in western Europe.

Also called frequency band, wave band .Radio and Television. a specific range of frequencies, especially a set of radio frequencies, as HF, VHF, and UHF.

Also called energy band .Physics. a closely spaced group of energy levels of electrons in a solid.

Computers. one or more tracks or channels on a magnetic drum.

Dentistry. a strip of thin metal encircling a tooth, usually for anchoring an orthodontic apparatus.

Anatomy, Zoology. a ribbonlike or cordlike structure encircling, binding, or connecting a part or parts.

(in handbound books) one of several cords of hemp or flax handsewn across the back of the collated signatures of a book to provide added strength.

verb (used with object)

to mark, decorate, or furnish with a band or bands.

Origin of band

First recorded in 1480–90; mostly and earlier from Middle English bende, biende “fetter, shackle, ornamental ribbon, sash,” Old English bend “band, ribbon, bond, fetter, chaplet,” partly and later from Old French bande, bende, from Germanic; compare Old High German binta “fillet”; see bind, band¹, band³, bend¹, bond¹

OTHER WORDS FROM band

bander, nounbandless, adjective

Other definitions for band (3 of 3)

band³

[ band ]

/ bænd /

noun Archaic.

Usually bands. articles for binding the person or the limbs; shackles; manacles; fetters.

an obligation; bond: the nuptial bands.

Origin of band

First recorded in 1100–50; Middle English bend, bende, late Old English bend “something that ties, binds, or bends,” from Old Norse band “act of binding; cord, band, fetter; confederacy, bond”; cognate with Old Saxon, Old Frisian band, Old High German bant; akin to Sanskrit bandhati “(he) binds, ties, fetters”; see band¹, band², bond¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use band in a sentence

The Solo bands are available as an option on the new Series 6 models or for purchase separately, at $50 for the rubber version and $100 for the braided band.
Apple Watch Series 6 first impressions: A stretchy addition looks great|Aaron Pressman|September 17, 2020|Fortune
One way to explain the difference is that the zones of wide dark bands indicate torpor, and animals with milder winters didn’t need to enter that state.
Ancient Lystrosaurus tusks may show the oldest signs of a hibernation-like state|Susan Milius|September 16, 2020|Science News
It’s more like a jazz band, one where all the musicians know the rules and how to play, but nothing is scripted or planned.
What if Your Company Had No Rules? (Bonus Episode)|Maria Konnikova|September 12, 2020|Freakonomics
There is always a mix of music with a live band and a DJ, a full open bar, creative catering, and photo booths, plus an afterparty.
How nonprofits are catering to millennials and rethinking the charity gala for younger generations|Rachel King|September 7, 2020|Fortune

An online concert held by the band in June was the world’s biggest paid online music event, drawing more than 750,000 viewers, the Yonhap News Agency reported.
South Korean boy band BTS built an army. Now, they might get to defer military service|kdunn6|September 4, 2020|Fortune
He plays an aging punk rocker and I play the drummer from his old band.
Coffee Talk with Fred Armisen: On ‘Portlandia,’ Meeting Obama, and Taylor Swift’s Greatness|Marlow Stern|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The band turned back around, raising a lively tune to signal life would go on.
Funeral Protest Is Too Much for NYPD Union Boss|Michael Daly|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The band was still on its way back as De Blasio and his wife departed.
Funeral Protest Is Too Much for NYPD Union Boss|Michael Daly|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The last band I was in was kind of a Sonic Youth rip-off band, and I thought that that was my calling.
Deer Tick's John McCauley on Ten Years in Rock and Roll|James Joiner|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Every other band I had been in had been pretty loud, you could never hear the vocals.
Deer Tick's John McCauley on Ten Years in Rock and Roll|James Joiner|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
His little band was almost immediately surrounded by the enemy.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
Conny stepped smilingly forward, and proceeded to affix the band around the vicar's massive throat.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
Roulard had played the trumpet in the regimental band in which Aristide had played the kettle drum.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
There was a band playing down at Klein's hotel, and the strains reached them faintly, tempered by the distance.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
On this the royal band of music would strike up its liveliest airs, and a great bell would toll its evening warning.
Our Little Korean Cousin|H. Lee M. Pike

British Dictionary definitions for band (1 of 3)

band¹

/ (bænd) /

noun

a company of people having a common purpose; groupa band of outlaws

a group of musicians playing either brass and percussion instruments only (brass band) or brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments (concert band or military band)

a group of musicians who play popular music, jazz, etc, often for dancing

a group of instrumentalists generally; orchestra

Canadian a formally recognized group of Canadian Indians on a reserve

anthropol a division of a tribe; a family group or camp group

US and Canadian a flock or herd

verb

(usually foll by together) to unite; assemble

Word Origin for band

C15: from French bande probably from Old Provençal banda of Germanic origin; compare Gothic bandwa sign, banner

British Dictionary definitions for band (2 of 3)

band²

/ (bænd) /

noun

a thin flat strip of some material, used esp to encircle objects and hold them togethera rubber band

a strip of fabric or other material used as an ornament or distinguishing mark, or to reinforce clothing
(in combination)waistband; hairband; hatband

a stripe of contrasting colour or textureSee also chromosome band

a driving belt in machinery

a range of values that are close or related in number, degree, or quality

physics a range of frequencies or wavelengths between two limits
radio such a range allocated to a particular broadcasting station or service

short for energy band

computing one or more tracks on a magnetic disk or drum

anatomy any structure resembling a ribbon or cord that connects, encircles, or binds different parts

the cords to which the folded sheets of a book are sewn

a thin layer or seam of ore

architect a strip of flat panelling, such as a fascia or plinth, usually attached to a wall

a large white collar, sometimes edged with lace, worn in the 17th century

either of a pair of hanging extensions of the collar, forming part of academic, legal, or (formerly) clerical dress

a ring for the finger (esp in phrases such as wedding band, band of gold, etc)

verb (tr)

to fasten or mark with a band

US and Canadian to ring (a bird)See ring 1 (def. 22)

Word Origin for band

C15: from Old French bende, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German binda fillet; see band ³

British Dictionary definitions for band (3 of 3)

band³

/ (bænd) /

noun

an archaic word for bond (def. 1), bond (def. 3), bond (def. 4)

Word Origin for band

C13: from Old Norse band; related to Old High German bant fetter; see bend 1, bond

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for band

band

[ bănd ]

An appliance or a part of an apparatus that encircles or binds a part of the body.

A cordlike tissue that connects or that holds bodily structures together.

A chromatically, structurally, or functionally differentiated strip or stripe in or on an organism.

Scientific definitions for band

band

[ bănd ]

A specific range of electromagnetic wavelengths or frequencies, as those used in radio broadcasting.

Other Idioms and Phrases with band

band

see on the bandwagon; to beat the band.

band

OTHER WORDS FOR band

Idioms about band

Origin of band

synonym study for band

Words nearby band

Other definitions for band (2 of 3)

Origin of band

OTHER WORDS FROM band

Other definitions for band (3 of 3)

Origin of band

Words related to band

How to use band in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for band (1 of 3)

Word Origin for band

British Dictionary definitions for band (2 of 3)

Word Origin for band

British Dictionary definitions for band (3 of 3)

Word Origin for band

Medical definitions for band

Scientific definitions for band

Other Idioms and Phrases with band