ligature

[lig-uh-cher, -choor]

noun

1. the act of binding or tying up.

   The ligature of the artery was done with skill.

2. anything that serves for binding or tying up, as a band, bandage, or cord.

3. a tie or bond.

   the ligature of mutual need that bound them together.

4. Printing, Orthography.,  a stroke or bar connecting two letters.

5. Printing.,  a character or type combining two or more letters, as fl and æ.

6. Music.

   1. a slur.

   2. a group of notes connected by a slur.

   3. a metal band for securing the reed of a clarinet or saxophone to the mouthpiece.

7. Surgery.,  a thread or wire for constriction of blood vessels or for removing tumors by strangulation.

verb (used with object)

ligatured, ligaturing 

1. to bind with a ligature; tie up; ligate.

ligature

/ -ˌtʃʊə, ˈlɪɡətʃə /

noun

1. the act of binding or tying up

2. something used to bind

3. a link, bond, or tie

4. surgery a thread or wire for tying around a vessel, duct, etc, as for constricting the flow of blood to a part

5. printing a character of two or more joined letters, such as, fl, ffi, ffl

6. music

   1. a slur or the group of notes connected by it

   2. (in plainsong notation) a symbol indicating two or more notes grouped together

verb

1. (tr) to bind with a ligature; ligate

Other Word Forms

• unligatured adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ligature¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Late Latin word ligātūra. See ligate, -ure

Word History and Origins

Origin of ligature¹

C14: from Late Latin ligātūra, ultimately from Latin ligāre to bind

Example Sentences

It also raised concerns about the number of deaths by ligature.

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Two days later, Ms Johnson's children found her setting up a ligature in her room in the same way she had reported.

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What appeared to be a ligature was found attached to the bannisters on the stairs, the court was told.

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A ligature cutter was locked in a box and no one knew the combination to unlock it.

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San Martin died at his Los Angeles residence and his cause of death was ruled suicide by “ligature hanging,” according to the coroner’s records.

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