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liftoff
lig
ligament
ligan
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ligation
ligature
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ligature

lig·a·ture [ líggəchər, líggə chr ] (plural lig·a·tures)


noun 
Definition:
 
1. something used for tying: something that is used for binding things or tying things up

2. tying process: the process of binding something or tying something up

3. bond: a unifying link or bond ( formal )

4. surgery surgical thread for tying off duct: a piece of surgical thread used to tie off a duct or blood vessel in order to cut off the supply of body fluid normally running through it

5. printing character consisting of joined letters: a character or piece of type that consists of two or more letters joined together, e.g. "æ"

6. music 
Same as  tien (sense 8)


7. music symbol in medieval music: in the notation of medieval music, a symbol indicating a group of notes to be sung to one syllable

8. music reed-holder on woodwind instrument: on a woodwind instrument, a band, usually made of metal, that holds the reed to the mouthpiece

[14th century. Directly or via French< late Latin ligatura< Latin ligat-, past participle of ligare "bind"]
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