unbound

• IPA^(key): /ʌnˈbaʊnd/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aʊnd

unbound

1. simple past and past participle of unbind

• unbounded

unbound (not comparable)

1. Not bound.
   1. Not obligated.

      Near-synonyms: unconstrained, unrestrained, unencumbered; unfettered, fetterless

      The terms of the contract inadvertently left certain unbound aspects to subjective interpretation.

   2. Not tied up.

      Near-synonyms: unfettered, fetterless, unrestrained, unchained, unshackled, shackleless, unmanacled, unhandcuffed

      The hostages' hands were left unbound.

   3. (of a book or document) Without a binding.

      an unbound book

      • 1880, William Blades, The Enemies of Books, page 40:

        Beneath an old ebony table were two long carved oak chests. I lifted the lid of one, and at the top was a once-white surplice covered with dust, and beneath was a mass of tracts — Commonwealth Quartos, unbound — a prey to worms and decay.

   4. (nuclear physics, of an atomic nucleus) Lying beyond the proton or neutron drip line; having a negative particle separation energy; capable of decaying by the spontaneous exothermic emission of one or more nucleons.

      Helium-2 is unbound, as it is energetically favorable for it to split into two separate protons.

• unbound state