ligature
lig·a·ture
noun\ˈli-gə-ˌchu̇r, -chər, -ˌtu̇r, -ˌtyu̇r\
Definition of LIGATURE
1
a : something that is used to bind; specifically : a filament (as a thread) used in surgery b : something that unites or connects : bond
2
: the action of binding or tying
3
: a compound note in mensural notation indicating a group of musical notes to be sung to one syllable
4
: a printed or written character (as æ or ƒƒ) consisting of two or more letters or characters joined together
Examples of LIGATURE
- <the surgeon tied a ligature around the tube to keep it in place>
- <a common language is often the ligature that unites the people of a nation>
Origin of LIGATURE
Middle English, from Late Latin ligatura, from Latin ligatus, past participle of ligare to bind, tie; akin to Albanian lidh I tie
First Known Use: 14th century
Related to LIGATURE
Related Words: captivity, confinement, constraint, curb, enchainment, enslavement, hindrance, immurement, imprisonment, incarceration, restraint, restriction; entanglement, net, trammel, trap; collar, straitjacket (also straightjacket); fastener, hobble, hold, hold-down, holding, tie
Near Antonyms: detaching, disengaging, parting, separation; unbinding, unfastening, unfettering, untying (or untieing); emancipation, freedom, liberation, release
Rhymes with LIGATURE
amateur, aperture, armature, blackamoor, carrefour, carte du jour, coinsure, commissure, confiture, connoisseur, coverture, curvature, cynosure, embouchure, epicure, filature, forfeiture, garniture, geniture, green-manure, haute couture, immature, insecure, manicure, overture, paramour, pedicure, plat du jour, portraiture, prelature, premature, quadrature, reassure, Reaumur, reinsure, saboteur, sepulture, sequitur, signature, simon-pure, sinecure, soup du jour, tablature, temperature, to be sure, troubadour, white amur, Yom Kippur
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