以上三者均有界限的含义。bounds可用作比喻，指超过某种界限，如 His impudence exceeds all bounds ；词组 out of bounds 常作军事用语，指禁止某人进人某一区域；此外，其还可用于指一片土地之边界[1]。confines常等同bonds，也指某种界限， 也常用作比喻，相比较，它与地理或区域因素的联系更少一些[2]。limit为通用词，几乎可指任何界限或分界[3]，如to pass beyond the city limits。
 
[1] "As a noun, it denotes a limit or boundary, or a line inclosing or marking off a tract of land. ” Cf. The Publisher's Editorial Staff, Black's Law Dictionary, abridged 6th edition, at p. 128, West Publishing Co. (1991 ).
[2] "Confines, like bounds, defines the extent of an area without reference to what lies beyond, but confine is less consistently restricted to the description of geographical limits. ” Cf. Laurence Urdang, The Dictionary of Confusable Words, at p. 61，Facts on File Publications (1988).
[3]“Point at which something ends or point where you can go no further. ” Cf. P. H.
Collin, Dictionary of Law, 2nd edition, at p. 323，Peter Collin Publishing (1993).