Lig"a*ture (l&ibreve;g"&adot;*t&usl;r; 135), n. [L. ligatura, fr. ligare, ligatum, to bind: cf. F. ligature. Cf. Ally, League, Legatura, Liable, Ligament.] 1. The act of binding.

2. Anything that binds; a band or bandage.

3. (Surg.) (a) A thread or string for tying the blood vessels, particularly the arteries, to prevent hemorrhage. (b) A thread or wire used to remove tumors, etc.

4. The state of being bound or stiffened; stiffness; as, the ligature of a joint.

5. Impotence caused by magic or charms. [Obs.]

6. (Mus.) A curve or line connecting notes; a slur.

7. (Print.) A double character, or a type consisting of two or more letters or characters united, as æ, fi, ffl.

Lig"a*ture (l&ibreve;g"&adot;*t&usl;r), v. t. (Surg.) To ligate; to tie.

• the act of tying something
  
• a cord etc used to tie something, especially the thread used in surgery to close a vessel or duct
  
• a character, such as æ, that combines multiple letters
  
• (music) a group of notes played as a phrase; the curved line that indicates such a phrase