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Synonyms

bonding

American  
[bon-ding] / ˈbɒn dɪŋ /

noun

  1. Psychology, Animal Behavior.

    1. 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.

    2. the establishment of a pair bond.

  2. a close friendship that develops between adults, often as a result of intense experiences, as those shared in military combat.

  3. 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.


bonding British  
/ ˈbɒndɪŋ /

noun

  1. the process by which individuals become emotionally attached to one another See also pair 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

Etymology

Origin of bonding

First recorded in 1670–80, for an earlier sense; bond 1 + -ing 1

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.

“I really love sharing and bonding over that.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Sugars, which bind more weakly, attach through hydrogen bonding.

From Science Daily

So did the promise of immediate, uninterrupted bonding with her baby.

From The Wall Street Journal

“It might be a little trauma bonding as well…. I think we understand each other on a specific mental and physical level.”

From The Wall Street Journal

It’s an agreeably heartfelt reminder that children are powered by an imaginative daring and purity of bonding we’d be wise to nurture, not squelch, if we’re going to learn how to inhabit the increasingly uninhabitable.

From Los Angeles Times