Having rigid front and back covers, usually boards covered with paper, cloth, or leather; -- of books. Contrasted with softcover and paperback.

A book with cardboard or cloth or leather covers; a hardcover book. Compare paperback.

A casebook bound that has a stiff, sturdy board (cardboard) cover. It is also known as casebound, hardbound, and hardcover, as contrasted to a paperback. Almost all hardback books are clothbound books. See also CASE-BOUND DUST JACKET HARDCOVER PAPERBACK