English

Alternative forms

• paper-bound

Adjective

paperbound ‎(comparative more paperbound, superlative most paperbound)

1. (not comparable, of a book) Having flexible covers; paperback; softcovered.
   • 1935, "Inflation Letters," Time, 4 Mar.:

     Last week in collaboration with his longtime associate, Frederick Shelton, Editor Kiplinger published a paperbound booklet called Inflation Ahead!—What to do about it.

2. (comparable) Involving or burdened by excessive administrative requirements, especially in the form of paperwork.
   • 1995, Bronwyn Fryer, "More Than Just A Pretty (Inter)Face," InformationWeek, 16 Oct. (retrieved 14 Apr. 2009):

     The company has turned to In Touch to automate what had been a paperbound process.

   • 2009, John Eligon, "State Law to Cap Public Defenders’ Caseloads, but Only in the City," New York Times, 6 Apr. (retrieved 14 Apr. 2009):

     “We need to bring this paperbound system into the 21st century,” he said.

Synonyms

• (burdened by excessive administration or paperwork): bureaucratic

Noun

paperbound ‎(plural paperbounds)

1. (dated) A paperback book.
   • 1957, Top of the News (volumes 14-16, page 55)

     Few book budgets can stretch enough to provide for the desired duplicates, but the paperbounds cost so little that by using them heavy duplication is possible. We also find them useful for duplication of titles that have only occasional demand.