Definition of: ligature

(lig′ə·chər) noun
1. Anything that constricts, or serves for binding or tying.
2. Surg. A thread or wire tied around a blood vessel to arrest bleeding or used for removing a tumor.
3. A ligation; the act of binding.
4. Printing Two or more connected letters, as fi, ffi, œ; also, in writing, the character used to indicate the connection (̑). Compare DIGRAPH.
5. Music A slur; notes joined by a slur.
—v.t. ·tured, ·tur·ing To bind or compress with a ligature. [<F <L ligatura <ligatus, pp. of ligare bind]