The word bond has several related meanings:

A bond is a strong connection between people, built through shared experiences, trust, or affection. The bond between best friends grows stronger after years of playing together, sharing secrets, and helping each other through tough times. Parents and children form powerful bonds from the moment of birth. Teammates develop bonds through practicing together and working toward common goals. These bonds can be so strong that they last a lifetime.

In a related sense, to bond with someone means to form that connection. When a new student joins your class, you might bond over a shared love of soccer or books. Animals bond with their caregivers when they learn to trust them.

In finance and government, a bond is a loan where someone lends money and gets paid back later with interest. When a city issues bonds to build a new school, citizens essentially lend the city money, which the city promises to repay over time.

A bond can also be something physical that holds things together, like the chemical bonds that link atoms into molecules, or an adhesive that bonds two pieces of wood.