ligature en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈlɪɡət͡ʃɚ/ (US)
- (US) audio
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *leyǵ-der. Latin ligō Proto-Indo-European *-tew-? Proto-Indo-European *-r-eh₂? Latin -tūra Late Latin ligātūrabor. Middle French ligaturebor. Middle English ligature English ligature From Middle English ligature, from Middle French ligature, from Late Latin ligātūra, from ligāre (“to tie, bind”).
Meanings
- (uncountable) The act of tying or binding something.
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(countable) A cord or similar thing used to tie something; especially the thread used in surgery to close a vessel or duct.
anti-ligature clothing
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, […], →OCLC, 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:
- (countable, uncountable) A thread or wire used to remove tumours, etc.
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(countable, uncountable) The state of being bound or stiffened; stiffness.
the ligature of a joint
- (countable) A character that visually combines multiple letters, such as æ, œ, ß or ij; also logotype. Sometimes called a typographic ligature.
- (countable, uncountable) A linker word that is classified as a separate part of speech, usually present in Philippine languages.
- (countable) A group of notes played as a phrase, or the curved line that indicates such a phrase.
- (countable, uncountable) A curve or line connecting notes; a slur.
- (countable) A piece used to hold a reed to the mouthpiece on woodwind instruments.
- (countable, uncountable) Any binding, uniting, or restraining principle or agency.
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(countable, uncountable) A spell or charm that induces sexual impotence.
The Roman epic poet Vergil refers to the incapacitating effects of ligatures, while Ovid, the erotic poet, admits the power of such spell-bindings.
1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 90:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| ligatures | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Meronyms
Relateds
Translations (84)
hy կցագիր (typography: character that combines multiple letters) · ko 합자 (typography: character that combines multiple letters) · ilo ligatura (grammar: a linker word) · tl pang-angkop (grammar: a linker word) · ro funie (cord or similar used to tie something) · el λιγκατούρα (typography: character that combines multiple letters) · cy clymlythyren (typography: character that combines multiple letters) · nb knytting (act of tying) · hy լիգատուրա (typography: character that combines multiple letters) · ru лигату́ра (music: group of notes played as a musical phrase) · ro șnur (cord or similar used to tie something) · fi ligatuuri (piece used to hold a reed to the mouthpiece) · it logotipo (typography: character that combines multiple letters) · bn যুক্তবর্ণ (typography: character that combines multiple letters) · ta கூட்டெழுத்து (typography: character that combines multiple letters) · bn যুক্তাক্ষর (typography: character that combines multiple letters) · nl verbinding (cord or similar used to tie something) · ga nasclitir (typography: character that combines multiple letters) · pt ligação (act of tying) · nb abbreviatur (typography: character that combines multiple letters) · nl verbinding (act of tying) · fi kiristin (piece used to hold a reed to the mouthpiece) · ca lligadura (cord or similar used to tie something) · nb knyting (act of tying) · cs slitek (typography: character that combines multiple letters) · ru лигату́ра (typography: character that combines multiple letters) · fr ligature (typography: character that combines multiple letters) · nl ligatuur (typography: character that combines multiple letters) · fi sidos (cord or similar used to tie something) · bg легато (music: group of notes played as a musical phrase) · sv ligatur (typography: character that combines multiple letters) · la ligātūra (act of tying) · ga ceangal (music: group of notes played as a musical phrase) · ru лигату́ра (act of tying) · de Ligatur (music: group of notes played as a musical phrase) · ro legare (act of tying) · fi side (cord or similar used to tie something) · hu lekötés (act of tying) · cmn 合字 (typography: character that combines multiple letters) · nl ligatuur (act of tying) · nn abbreviatur (typography: character that combines multiple letters) · de Ligatur (typography: character that combines multiple letters) · sh ligatura (music: group of notes played as a musical phrase) · fi ligatuuri (music: group of notes played as a musical phrase) · fi ligatuuri (cord or similar used to tie something) · el δεσμός (act of tying) · nb abbreviatur (music: group of notes played as a musical phrase) · es ligadura (music: group of notes played as a musical phrase) · sh ligatura (typography: character that combines multiple letters) · fi ligatuuri (typography: character that combines multiple letters) · nn abbreviatur (music: group of notes played as a musical phrase) · pt ligatura (typography: character that combines multiple letters) · cs ligatura (typography: character that combines multiple letters) · ml കൂട്ടക്ഷരം (typography: character that combines multiple letters) · ro frânghie (cord or similar used to tie something) · es ligadura (typography: character that combines multiple letters) · pam panuglung (grammar: a linker word) · hu összekötés (act of tying) · nl band (cord or similar used to tie something) · pdt Ombinjsel (cord or similar used to tie something) · ro legătură (act of tying) · ja 合字 (typography: character that combines multiple letters) · hu ligatúra (typography: character that combines multiple letters) · nl ligatuur (music: group of notes played as a musical phrase) · grc ὑφέν (typography: character that combines multiple letters) · fi sitominen (act of tying) · nl afbinding (cord or similar used to tie something) · bg лигатура (act of tying) · da ligatur (typography: character that combines multiple letters) · it legatura (typography: character that combines multiple letters) · ca lligada (cord or similar used to tie something) · th ตัวแฝด (typography: character that combines multiple letters) · sh лигатура (typography: character that combines multiple letters) · ro ligatură (typography: character that combines multiple letters) · pag pamasuldong (grammar: a linker word) · it legatura (act of tying) · sq ligaturë (act of tying) · hu kötőív (music: group of notes played as a musical phrase) · hu elkötés (act of tying) · hi संयुक्ताक्षर (typography: character that combines multiple letters) · ru вязь (typography: character that combines multiple letters) · ka ლიგატურა (typography: character that combines multiple letters) · ro sfoară (cord or similar used to tie something) · el λιγκατούρα (music: group of notes played as a musical phrase)