Definition of "ligature"

ligature

/ˈlɪɡət͡ʃɚ/

noun
countable and uncountable, plural ligatures
1. (uncountable) The act of tying or binding something.
2. (countable) A cord or similar thing used to tie something; especially the thread used in surgery to close a vessel or duct.
  Quotations
  I likewiſe felt ſeveral ſlender Ligatures acroſs my Body, from my Armpits to my Thighs. I could only look upwards, the Sun began to grow hot, and the Light offended mine Eyes.
  1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “The Author Gives Some Account of Himself and Family, His First Inducements to Travel. […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume I, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], part I (A Voyage to Lilliput), page 7
  He hid shoelaces or rope under cushions to use as ligatures.
  2018, Eli Rosenberg, “She stalked the Golden State Killer until she died. Some think her work led to the suspect’s arrest”, in The Washington Post
3. A thread or wire used to remove tumours, etc.
4. The state of being bound or stiffened; stiffness.
5. (countable, typography) A character that visually combines multiple letters, such as æ, œ, ß or ĳ; also logotype. Sometimes called a typographic ligature.
6. (countable, music) A group of notes played as a phrase, or the curved line that indicates such a phrase.
7. (music) A curve or line connecting notes; a slur.
8. (countable) A piece used to hold a reed to the mouthpiece on woodwind instruments.
9. Impotence caused by magic or charms.
verb
third-person singular simple present ligatures, present participle ligaturing, simple past and past participle ligatured
1. (surgery) To ligate; to tie.

Definition of "ligature"

ligature

noun

Quotations

verb