ligature Hear it!

ligature definition

liga·ture (ligə c̸hər)

noun

  1. a tying or binding together
  2. a thing used in tying or binding together; tie, bond, etc.
    1. a written or printed character containing two or more letters united, as æ,fl,t̸h
    2. a curved line connecting such letters in writing
  3. Music
    1. in medieval mensural notation, a symbol representing two or more notes
    2. a curved line joining two or more notes in a tie or slur
    3. the notes so connected
  4. Surgery a thread or wire used to tie up an artery, etc.

Etymology: ME < MFr < LL ligatura < pp. of L ligare, to bind < IE base *leiĝ-, to bind > MLowG līk, a tie, MHG geleich, joint, Alb lidhe, a bond

transitive verb ligatured -·tured, ligaturing -·tur·ing

to tie or bind together with a ligature; ligate

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