verbinden
/fɛɐ̯ˈbɪndən/
Definition
To connect or join two or more things together; also to link people or ideas.
Example
Das Kabel verbindet den Computer mit dem Drucker.
Show translation
The cable connects the computer to the printer.
Etymology
From Middle High German *verbinden*, combining the prefix *ver-* (indicating completion or transformation) and *binden* ("to bind, to tie"), itself from Old High German *bintan*, related to English "bind" and Latin *filum* ("thread"). The *ver-* prefix intensifies the base verb, shifting the meaning from simply tying to fully joining or uniting.
Cultural note
*Verbinden* is versatile in German and appears in many fixed phrases: *in Verbindung stehen* (to be in contact), *etwas mit etwas verbinden* (to associate one thing with another), and *eine Wunde verbinden* (to bandage a wound). The noun *Verbindung* is also key in academic and business German — university fraternities are called *Verbindungen*, and "connection" in networking contexts is almost always *Verbindung*. Don't confuse with *verknüpfen*, which is more technical/digital, or *vereinigen*, which implies merging into one entity.