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| lig·a·ture [ líggəchər, líggə chr ] (plural lig·a·tures) |
noun |
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| Definition: |
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1. something used for tying: something that is used for binding things or tying things up
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2. tying process: the process of binding something or tying something up
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3. bond: a unifying link or bond
(
formal
)
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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
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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"
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6. music
Same as tien (sense 8)
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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
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8. music reed-holder on woodwind instrument: on a woodwind instrument, a band, usually made of metal, that holds the reed to the mouthpiece
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| [14th century. Directly or via French< late Latin ligatura< Latin ligat-, past participle of ligare "bind"] |
