1. The act of tying or binding things together
   "The surgeon performed a ligature of the blood vessel"
    
2. Something used to tie or bind
   "The surgeon used a ligature to stop the bleeding";
   - binder
    
3. Thread used by surgeons to bind a vessel (as to constrict the flow of blood)
   "The surgeon carefully applied a ligature to stop the bleeding"
    
4. Character consisting of two or more letters combined into one
   "The 'æ' in 'encyclopædia' is a common ligature in English"
    
5. A metal band used to attach a reed to the mouthpiece of a clarinet or saxophone
   "He adjusted the ligature to ensure the reed was securely fastened"
    
6. (music) a group of notes connected by a slur
   "The clarinettist practised the ligature to ensure a smooth transition between notes"

1. (surgery) bind with a bandage or ligature
   "ligature the artery";
   - ligate

Derived forms: ligatured, ligatures, ligaturing

Type of: attachment, band, bandage, character, fastening, graph, grapheme, graphic symbol, ligament, musical phrase, phrase, thread, yarn

Encyclopedia: Ligature