bandgroup of musicians: a jazz band; a gang: a band of thieves; a thin, flat strip of material for binding; a stripe used as decoration; a ring: a wedding bandNot to be confused with:banned ? prohibited; forbidden, barred; outlawed: Smoking is now banned in most restaurants.Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embreeband 1 (b?nd)n.1. A thin strip of flexible material used to encircle and bind one object or to hold a number of objects together: a metal band around the bale of cotton.2. A strip or stripe that contrasts with something else in color, texture, or material.3. A narrow strip of fabric used to trim, finish, or reinforce articles of clothing.4. Something that constrains or binds morally or legally: the bands of marriage and family.5. A simple ring, especially a wedding ring.6. a. A neckband or collar.b. bands The two strips hanging from the front of a collar as part of the dress of certain clerics, scholars, and lawyers.c. A high collar popular in the 1500s and 1600s.7. a. Biology A chromatically, structurally, or functionally differentiated strip or stripe in or on an organism.b. Anatomy A cordlike tissue that connects or holds structures together.8. Physics a. A specific range of wavelengths or frequencies of electromagnetic radiation.b. A range of very closely spaced electron energy levels in solids, the distribution and nature of which determine the electrical properties of a material.9. Any of the distinct grooves on a long-playing phonograph record that contains an individual selection or a separate section of a whole.10. A cord or strip across the back of a book to which the sheets or quires are attached.tr.v. band·ed, band·ing, bands 1. To tie, bind, or encircle with or as if with a band.2. To mark or identify with a band: a program to band migrating birds.[Middle English bende (from Old English bend and from Old French bande, bende, of Germanic origin) and Middle English bond, band (from Old Norse, band); see bhendh- in Indo-European roots.]band 2 (b?nd) n. 1. a. A group of people: a band of outlaws. b. A group of animals. 2. a. Anthropology A unit of social organization especially among hunter-gatherers, consisting of a usually small number of families living together cooperatively. b. Canadian An aboriginal group officially recognized as an organized unit by the Canadian government. See Usage Note at First Nation.3. A group of musicians who perform as an ensemble. v. band·ed, band·ing, bands v. tr. To assemble or unite in a group. v. intr. To form a group; unite: banded together for protection. [Early Modern English, from Middle French, troop identified by its standard, ultimately (probably via Old Provençal) from *banda, plural of Medieval Latin bandum, military standard, banner, of Germanic origin; see bh?-1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.band (bænd) n1. a company of people having a common purpose; group: a band of outlaws. 2. (Music, other) 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. (Pop Music) a group of musicians who play popular music, jazz, etc, often for dancing4. (Music, other) a group of instrumentalists generally; orchestra5. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) Canadian a formally recognized group of Canadian Indians on a reserve6. (Anthropology & Ethnology) anthropol a division of a tribe; a family group or camp group7. US and Canadian a flock or herdvb (usually foll by together) to unite; assemble[C15: from French bande probably from Old Provençal banda of Germanic origin; compare Gothic bandwa sign, banner]band (bænd) n1. a thin flat strip of some material, used esp to encircle objects and hold them together: a rubber band. 2. (Clothing & Fashion) a. a strip of fabric or other material used as an ornament or distinguishing mark, or to reinforce clothingb. (in combination): waistband; hairband; hatband. 3. (Clothing & Fashion) a stripe of contrasting colour or texture. See also chromosome band4. (Mechanical Engineering) a driving belt in machinery5. (Mathematics) a range of values that are close or related in number, degree, or quality6. (Telecommunications) a. physics a range of frequencies or wavelengths between two limitsb. radio such a range allocated to a particular broadcasting station or service7. (Atomic Physics) short for energy band8. (Computer Science) computing one or more tracks on a magnetic disk or drum9. (Anatomy) anatomy any structure resembling a ribbon or cord that connects, encircles, or binds different parts10. (Printing, Lithography & Bookbinding) the cords to which the folded sheets of a book are sewn11. (Mining & Quarrying) a thin layer or seam of ore12. (Architecture) architect a strip of flat panelling, such as a fascia or plinth, usually attached to a wall13. (Clothing & Fashion) a large white collar, sometimes edged with lace, worn in the 17th century14. (Clothing & Fashion) either of a pair of hanging extensions of the collar, forming part of academic, legal, or (formerly) clerical dress15. (Jewellery) a ring for the finger (esp in phrases such as wedding band, band of gold, etc)vb (tr) 16. to fasten or mark with a band17. (Environmental Science) US and Canadian to ring (a bird). See ring122[C15: from Old French bende, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German binda fillet; see band3]band (bænd) n an archaic word for bond1, bond3, bond4[C13: from Old Norse band; related to Old High German bant fetter; see bend1, bond]Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014band1 (bænd) n. 1. a company of persons, animals, or things acting or functioning together; aggregation: a band of protesters. 2. a. an orchestra composed chiefly of brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. b. a musical group of a specialized type: rock band. 3. a relatively small group of nomadic people who camp together and subsist by foraging. v.t. 4. to unite in a troop, company, or confederacy. v.i. 5. to unite; confederate (often fol. by together). [1480?90; A band is a narrow strip of material such as cloth or metal which is joined at the ends so that it can be fitted tightly round something.You do not refer to the magnetic strips on which sounds are recorded as ‘bands’. You call them tapes.