n. [ L. ligamentum, fr. ligare to bind; cf. f. ligament. Cf. Lien, n., Ligature. ] 1. Anything that ties or unites one thing or part to another; a bandage; a bond. Hawthorne. [ 1913 Webster ]

Interwoven is the love of liberty with every ligament of your hearts. Washington. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Anat.) (a) A tough band or plate of dense, fibrous, connective tissue or fibrocartilage serving to unite bones or form joints. (b) A band of connective tissue, or a membranous fold, which supports or retains an organ in place; as, the gastrophrenic ligament, connecting the diaphragm and stomach. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Cf. F. ligamenteux. ] Composing a ligament; of the nature of a ligament; binding; as, a strong ligamentous membrane. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. L. ligare to bind, to tie, ligamen band, bandage, E. ligament, or ligsam. ] (Law) Goods sunk in the sea, with a buoy attached in order that they may be found again. See Jetsam and Flotsam. [ Written also lagan. ] Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Biochem.) An enzyme which catalyzes creation of a covalent bond between two substrates, resulting in a larger product which is a combination of the two starting materials; especially, DNA ligase, an enzyme which creates a phosphate bond between 5′ and 3′ ends of a DNA chain, resulting in a longer chain of DNA. DNA ligase is important in normal biosynthesis of DNA in the replication cycle of cells. [ PJC ]

v. t. [ L. ligatus, p. p. of ligare. ] 1. To tie with a ligature; to bind around; to bandage. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Molecular biology) To concatenate two strands of (nucleic acid, usually DNA), in an end-to-end fashion, using a ligase. [ PJC ]

n. [ L. ligatio, fr. ligare to bind. Cf. Liaison. ] 1. The act of binding, or the state of being bound. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which binds; bond; connection. [ 1913 Webster ]

Tied with tape, and sealed at each fold and ligation. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

pos>n. [ See Ligate. ] (Surg.) An instrument for ligating, or for placing and fastening a ligature. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. ligatura, fr. ligare, ligatum, to bind: cf. F. ligature. Cf. Ally, League, Legatura, Liable, Ligament. ] 1. The act of binding. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Anything that binds; a band or bandage. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The state of being bound or stiffened; stiffness; as, the ligature of a joint. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Impotence caused by magic or charms. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Mus.) A curve or line connecting notes; a slur. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Print.) A double character, or a type consisting of two or more letters or characters united, as æ, fi, ffl. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. (Surg.) To ligate; to tie. [ 1913 Webster ]