anudar

Anudar is a Spanish verb meaning to tie or knot something, to secure with a knot. It can be used for literal tying, such as ropes, cords, or shoelaces, and also in a figurative sense, for uniting people or ideas or for tying up loose ends.

Etymology: the verb is derived from the noun nudo (knot) with the productive suffix -ar, forming a regular verb in Spanish. It is cognate with related verbs in other Romance languages that express the act of tying a knot.

Conjugation: anudar is a regular -ar verb, so its endings follow the standard pattern. Present indicative: yo anudo, tú anudas, él/ella/usted anuda, nosotros/nosotras anudamos, vosotros/vosotras anudáis, ellos/ellas/ustedes anudan. Preterite: yo anudé, tú anudaste, él/ella/usted anudó, nosotros anudamos, vosotros anudasteis, ellos/ellas/ustedes anudaron. Imperfect: yo anudaba, tú anudabas, él/ella/usted anudaba, nosotros anudábamos, vosotros anudabais, ellos/ellas/ustedes anudaban. Present subjunctive: yo anude, tú anudes, él/ella/usted anude, nosotros anudemos, vosotros anudéis, ellos/ellas/ustedes anuden. Gerund: anudando. Past participle: anudado.

Usage notes: transitive with a direct object (anudar la cuerda, anudar el cordón). Reflexive use is possible: anudarse, as in to tie something on oneself or to cinch, e.g., se anudó la corbata. Common figurative expressions include anudar lazos (to tie bonds) and, in some contexts, anudar cabos, though the more common idiom for finishing tasks is atar cabos.

See also: atar, nudo, cuerda.