ligature

[ lig-uh-cher, -choor ]

/ ˈlɪg ə tʃər, -ˌtʃʊər /

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See synonyms for ligature on Thesaurus.com

noun

the act of binding or tying up: The ligature of the artery was done with skill.

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

a tie or bond: the ligature of mutual need that bound them together.

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

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

Music.

a slur.
a group of notes connected by a slur.
a metal band for securing the reed of a clarinet or saxophone to the mouthpiece.

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

verb (used with object), lig·a·tured, lig·a·tur·ing.

to bind with a ligature; tie up; ligate.

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Origin of ligature

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

OTHER WORDS FROM ligature

un·lig·a·tured, adjective

Words nearby ligature

ligan, ligand, ligase, ligate, ligation, ligature, ligeance, liger, Ligeti, light, light adaptation

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use ligature in a sentence

The ligature around his neck corresponded to a fragment of ligature still attached to the shower curtain.
Boris Berezovsky and the Russian Money Problem|David Frum|March 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He had scars on his stomach and buttocks, and ligature indentations on his wrists.
Florida Child Abuse Scandal: The Victim's New Life|Jacqui Goddard|February 24, 2011|DAILY BEAST
A fourth ligature, but this one swift as an arrow, darted towards his stomach, and wound around him there.
Toilers of the Sea|Victor Hugo
It would be the bursting of the ligature of the artery; and once under the water with its heavy burden, no power could raise it.
Toilers of the Sea|Victor Hugo

For a time the wound seemed to be progressing favorably, but the unlucky complication of the ligature threw him back.
The Life of Nelson, Vol. I (of 2)|A. T. (Alfred Thayer) Mahan
On that day the ligature came away, giving instant and entire relief.
The Life of Nelson, Vol. I (of 2)|A. T. (Alfred Thayer) Mahan
His hands were now immoderately swelled from the tightness of the ligature; and the pain had become intolerable.
The Indian: On the Battle-Field and in the Wigwam|John Frost

British Dictionary definitions for ligature

ligature

/ (ˈlɪɡətʃə, -ˌtʃʊə) /

noun

the act of binding or tying up

something used to bind

a link, bond, or tie

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

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

music

a slur or the group of notes connected by it
(in plainsong notation) a symbol indicating two or more notes grouped together

verb

(tr) to bind with a ligature; ligate

Word Origin for ligature

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

ligature

Origin of ligature

OTHER WORDS FROM ligature

Words nearby ligature

Words related to ligature

How to use ligature in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ligature

Word Origin for ligature