transitive verb (past and past participleob·li·gat·ed, present participleob·li·gat·ing, 3rd person present singularob·li·gates)
Definition:
1. compel somebody legally or morally: to compel somebody to do something as a legal or moral duty
2. U.S. commit funds as security: to commit something, especially funds, to fulfill an obligation, e.g. as security
adjective
Definition:
only existing in one environment: describes an organism that can exist only in a particular role or under particular environmental conditions. See also facultative (sense 3)
[15th century. < Latin obligatus, past participle of obligare (see oblige)]
