bund
Definition
- Noun:
- An embankment or dike: "bund" refers to a raised structure, such as a dam or levee, built to hold back water, especially in South Asian contexts.
- A quay or waterfront: In some regions, particularly in South and Southeast Asia, "bund" can also mean a paved embankment along a river or sea, used as a promenade or landing place.
Usage Examples
Embakment:
- The farmers built a strong bund to protect the rice fields from flooding. (A raised earth structure to control water.)
- After the heavy rains, the bund along the river held firm. (The levee prevented overflow.)
Waterfront:
- The Bund in Shanghai is a famous waterfront promenade. (A paved area along the Huangpu River.)
- We walked along the bund, watching ships dock at the quay. (A landing place for boats.)
Advanced Usage
"to raise a bund": to construct an embankment.
- The village raised a bund to divert the monsoon runoff. (They built a dike to manage seasonal water.)
"bund wall": a retaining wall used in industrial settings to contain spills.
- The chemical plant installed a bund wall around the storage tanks. (A barrier to prevent leaks from spreading.)
Variants and Related Words
Bunding (n): the act of constructing or reinforcing a bund.
- The bunding of the riverbank prevented erosion. (The process of building embankments.)
Bunded (adj): enclosed or protected by a bund.
- The fuel storage area is bunded to meet safety regulations. (Surrounded by a containment wall.)
Synonyms
- Dike: a barrier built to control water.
- Levee: a natural or artificial embankment alongside a river.
- Embankment: a raised structure of earth or stone.
Phrasal Verbs
- Bund up: to raise or strengthen a bund.
- They had to bund up the old embankment before the rainy season. (Reinforce the existing bund.)
Related Idioms
- "Hold the bund": to maintain a defensive position or barrier (rare, used metaphorically).
- In negotiations, they tried to hold the bund against unreasonable demands. (Maintain a firm line.)