spiral-bound

Meaning

1. 1adjectivebefore a noun

   Describing a notebook or book whose pages are held together by a coil of wire or plastic threaded through holes along one edge.

   Grammar: Usually before a noun: a spiral-bound notebook, not 'the notebook is spiral-bound' in most speech.

   Patterns

   • a spiral-bound notebook
   • a spiral-bound pad

   I bought a spiral-bound notebook for my history class.

   The recipe collection came as a spiral-bound book that lies flat on the counter.

   She prefers spiral-bound planners because the pages fold back easily.

Common combinations

spiral-bound notebook

He filled a spiral-bound notebook with sketches.

spiral-bound pad

The reporter scribbled on a spiral-bound pad.

spiral-bound manual

The repair shop kept a spiral-bound manual near the bench.

spiral-bound calendar

A spiral-bound calendar hung beside the fridge.

spiral-bound cookbook

The church group printed a spiral-bound cookbook for charity.

Synonyms and how they differ

coil-bound

This describes the same method, but with plastic coil, and is a printer's term more than an everyday word.

ring-bound

This is used for binders with metal rings that open, while spiral-bound pages are fixed on a coil.

wire-bound

This names the wire material and is common in British shops, whereas spiral-bound refers to the coil shape.

stapled

This means fastened with staples and is used for thin booklets, not for a coil through the edge.

Opposites

Word family

spiral noun

a curve that winds around a center

bind verb

to fasten pages together

binding noun

the cover and stitching of a book

bound adjective

fastened together

Commonly confused: spiral-bound or spiral-bond?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “spiral-bound”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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