band

Everyday

1. A band is a group of musicians who play together: a rock band, a school band. tree →
2. A band is a thin strip of material that goes round something: a rubber band, a hair band, a wedding band. tree →
3. A band is a stripe of colour or a range between two limits: a band of cloud, an age band. tree →
4. A band is a group of people who do something together: a band of robbers. tree →
5. To band together means to join as a group to do something. tree →

In the lessons

At school, pupils join the school band or orchestra; in maths, pupils are sometimes grouped in «bands» by level, and bands on graphs show ranges. In science, rubber bands show stretching and elastic energy; colour bands appear in rainbows. In stories, a band of outlaws (Robin Hood) or travellers. Phrases: rubber band, marching band, school band, brass band, hair band, band together.

Examples

• My brother plays drums in a band. tree →
• The school band played at assembly. tree →
• Put a rubber band around the cards. tree →
• She tied her hair back with a band. tree →
• A band of rain is moving across the country. tree →
• Robin Hood led a band of outlaws. tree →
• The neighbours banded together to clean the park. tree →
• Don’t you envy our pranceful bands? tree →

Note

Countable: bands. A «band» (music) usually plays pop, rock, jazz or brass; an «orchestra» is a big group with string instruments. Do not confuse with «banned» (not allowed) — they sound almost the same. A «rubber band» is also called an «elastic band» (UK) or a «lacky band» (Australian slang).

In Jewish tradition

The priest's band is made of the same gold, blue, purple, scarlet and linen as the ephod. In Job, God asks who loosed the bands of the wild ass, showing that He alone sets creatures free. In Chronicles a band is a group of fighters led by captains.

Interpretation. Commentators see the priest's band as one piece with the garment, joining the parts of the priest's dress into a whole. The tradition reads Job's questions as showing God's wisdom over all creation.

Examples

• And thou shalt take the garments, and put upon Aaron the tunic, and the robe of the ephod, and the ephod, and the breastplate, and gird him with the skilfully woven band of the ephod. (Torah EXO.29.5, JPS 1917) tree →
• And they made two rings of gold, and put them on the two shoulder-pieces of the ephod underneath, in the forepart thereof, close by the coupling thereof, above the skilfully woven band of the ephod. (Torah EXO.39.20, JPS 1917) tree →
• And the skilfully woven band, which is upon it, wherewith to gird it on, shall be like the work thereof and of the same piece: of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen. (Torah EXO.28.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• Or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass? (Writings JOB.39.5, JPS 1917) tree →
• Will the bands of fishermen make a banquet of him? (Writings JOB.40.30, JPS 1917) tree →
• Then David received them, and made them captains of the band. (Writings 1CH.12.19, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable: bands. A «band» (music) usually plays pop, rock, jazz or brass; an «orchestra» is a big group with string instruments. Do not confuse with «banned» (not allowed) — they sound almost the same. A «rubber band» is also called an «elastic band» (UK) or a «lacky band» (Australian slang).