ligature

plural ligatures

1. uncountableThe act of tying or binding something.
2. countableA cord or similar thing used to tie something; especially the thread used in surgery to close a vessel or duct.

   anti-ligature clothing

   (in psychiatry) clothing that prevents one from using it to tie knots

   2 more examples

   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

3. countableuncountableA thread or wire used to remove tumours, etc.
4. countableuncountableThe state of being bound or stiffened; stiffness.

   the ligature of a joint

5. countablemediaA character or glyph that visually combines multiple letters, often those of a digraph (such as æ, œ, ß or ij) but sometimes also others (such as fi or fl). (In English and various other languages, such characters and glyphs are not necessary to write or type in the standard orthography, but there are traditions of using them for aesthetic reasons.)

   Near-synonym: logotype (not always differentiated)

   Synonyms: typographic ligature, logotype

6. countableuncountablegrammarA linker word that is classified as a separate part of speech, usually present in Philippine languages.
7. countableentertainmentA group of notes played as a phrase, or the curved line that indicates such a phrase.
8. countableuncountableentertainmentA curve or line connecting notes; a slur.
9. countableA piece used to hold a reed to the mouthpiece on woodwind instruments.
10. countableuncountableAny binding, uniting, or restraining principle or agency.
11. countableuncountableA 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

present singular third person ligatures · participle present ligaturing · participle past ligatured · past ligatured

1. medicineTo ligate; to tie.