1 (amarrar) to tie; tie up; [+cautivo] to bind; tie up; (abrochar) to fasten; [+animal] to tether; [+gavilla] to bind zapatos de atar lace-up shoes; está de atar he's raving mad
dejar algo atado y bien atado to leave no loose ends; leave everything properly tied up
2 (impedir el movimiento a) to stop; paralyzeatar corto a algn to keep sb on a close rein
atar la lengua a algn to silence sb
atar las manos a algn to tie sb's hands
verse atado de pies y manos to be tied hand and foot