noun
ligature
LIH-guhch
Ligature (noun) means a cord, thread, or wire used to tie something tightly, especially to close off a blood vessel in surgery. Example: “The surgeon applied a ligature to stop the bleeding.”
noun
1
A cord, thread, or wire used to tie something tightly, especially to close off a blood vessel in surgery.
"The surgeon applied a ligature to stop the bleeding."
2
A character formed by joining two or more letters into a single glyph, such as æ.
"The typeface includes a stylish "fi" ligature."
How to use ligature
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething used to tie or bind, or (in typography) two letters merged into one symbol.
Common pairings
surgical ligature
typographic ligature
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Word forms
- Plural
- ligatures
- Third person singular
- ligatures
- Past tense
- ligatured
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The surgeon applied a _____ to stop the bleeding.
Etymology
From Late Latin ligatura, from ligare, "to tie or bind" — the same root as ligament and lien.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for ligature
See all rhymes for ligature →Frequently asked questions
What does “ligature” mean?
The word “ligature” means a cord, thread, or wire used to tie something tightly, especially to close off a blood vessel in surgery. In plain terms, something used to tie or bind, or (in typography) two letters merged into one symbol.
How do you pronounce “ligature”?
“Ligature” is pronounced LIH-guhch (/ˈlɪɡət͡ʃɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “ligature” in a sentence?
Here is “ligature” used in a sentence: “The surgeon applied a ligature to stop the bleeding.”
What part of speech is “ligature”?
“Ligature” is a noun.
Where does the word “ligature” come from?
The word “ligature” comes from Late Latin. From Late Latin ligatura, from ligare, "to tie or bind" — the same root as ligament and lien.
How many meanings does “ligature” have?
“Ligature” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a cord, thread, or wire used to tie something tightly, especially to close off a blood vessel in surgery.
