band

¹

[ band ]

noun

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

   a band of protesters.

   Synonyms: assembly, association, society, set, body, group, gang

2. Music.
   1. a group of instrumentalists playing music of a specialized type:

      rock band; calypso band; mariachi band.

   2. a musical group, usually employing brass, percussion, and often woodwind instruments, that plays especially for marching or open-air performances.
   3. big band.
   4. dance band.
3. a division of a nomadic tribe; a group of individuals who move and camp together and subsist by hunting and gathering.
4. a group of persons living outside the law:

   a renegade band.

verb (used with object)

1. to unite in a troop, company, or confederacy.

verb (used without object)

1. to unite; confederate (often followed by together ):

   They banded together to oust the chairman.

band

²

[ band ]

noun

1. a thin, flat strip of some material for binding, confining, trimming, protecting, etc.:

   a band on each bunch of watercress.

2. a fillet, belt, or strap:

   a band for the hair;

   a band for connecting pulleys.

3. a stripe, as of color or decorative work.
4. a strip of paper or other material serving as a label:

   a cigar band.

5. a plain or simply styled ring, without mounted gems or the like:

   a thin gold band on his finger.

6. (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.
7. bands. Geneva bands.
8. a flat collar commonly worn by men and women in the 17th century in western Europe.
9. 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.
10. Also called energy band. Physics. a closely spaced group of energy levels of electrons in a solid.
11. Computers. one or more tracks or channels on a magnetic drum.
12. Dentistry. a strip of thin metal encircling a tooth, usually for anchoring an orthodontic apparatus.
13. Anatomy, Zoology. a ribbonlike or cordlike structure encircling, binding, or connecting a part or parts.
14. (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)

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

band

³

[ band ]

noun

, Archaic.

1. Usually bands. articles for binding the person or the limbs; shackles; manacles; fetters.
2. an obligation; bond:

   the nuptial bands.

band

¹

/ bænd /

noun

1. a company of people having a common purpose; group

   a band of outlaws

2. a group of musicians playing either brass and percussion instruments only ( brass band ) or brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments ( concert band or military band )
3. a group of musicians who play popular music, jazz, etc, often for dancing
4. a group of instrumentalists generally; orchestra
5. a formally recognized group of Canadian Indians on a reserve
6. anthropol a division of a tribe; a family group or camp group
7. a flock or herd

verb

1. usually foll by together to unite; assemble

band

²

/ bænd /

noun

1. See bond
   an archaic word for bond bond bond

band

³

/ bænd /

noun

1. a thin flat strip of some material, used esp to encircle objects and hold them together

   a rubber band

2. 1. a strip of fabric or other material used as an ornament or distinguishing mark, or to reinforce clothing
   2. ( in combination )

      hatband

      hairband

      waistband

3. See chromosome band
   a stripe of contrasting colour or texture See also chromosome band
4. a driving belt in machinery
5. a range of values that are close or related in number, degree, or quality
6. 1. physics a range of frequencies or wavelengths between two limits
   2. radio such a range allocated to a particular broadcasting station or service
7. See energy band
   short for energy band
8. computing one or more tracks on a magnetic disk or drum
9. anatomy any structure resembling a ribbon or cord that connects, encircles, or binds different parts
10. the cords to which the folded sheets of a book are sewn
11. a thin layer or seam of ore
12. architect a strip of flat panelling, such as a fascia or plinth, usually attached to a wall
13. a large white collar, sometimes edged with lace, worn in the 17th century
14. either of a pair of hanging extensions of the collar, forming part of academic, legal, or (formerly) clerical dress
15. a ring for the finger (esp in phrases such as wedding band , band of gold , etc)

verb

1. to fasten or mark with a band
2. See ring
   to ring (a bird) See ring 1

band

/ bănd /

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

Other Words From

• band·er noun
• band·less adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of band¹

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”; band ², band ³, bend ¹, bond ¹

Origin of band²

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”; bind, band ¹, band ³, bend ¹, bond ¹

Origin of band³

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”; band ¹, band ², bend ¹, bond ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of band¹

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

Origin of band²

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

Origin of band³

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. to beat the band, Informal. energetically; abundantly:

   It rained all day to beat the band.

More idioms and phrases containing band

see on the bandwagon ; to beat the band .

Synonym Study

See company.

Example Sentences

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.

From 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.

From 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.

From 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.

From 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.

From Fortune

He plays an aging punk rocker and I play the drummer from his old band.

From The Daily Beast

The band turned back around, raising a lively tune to signal life would go on.

From The Daily Beast

The band was still on its way back as De Blasio and his wife departed.

From The 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.

From The Daily Beast

Every other band I had been in had been pretty loud, you could never hear the vocals.

From The Daily Beast

His little band was almost immediately surrounded by the enemy.

From Project Gutenberg

Conny stepped smilingly forward, and proceeded to affix the band around the vicar's massive throat.

From Project Gutenberg

Roulard had played the trumpet in the regimental band in which Aristide had played the kettle drum.

From Project Gutenberg

There was a band playing down at Klein's hotel, and the strains reached them faintly, tempered by the distance.

From Project Gutenberg

On this the royal band of music would strike up its liveliest airs, and a great bell would toll its evening warning.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bunch
• club
• collection
• company
• corps
• crew
• gang
• gathering
• party
• troop
• troupe