ligature
Pronunciation: [ˈlɪɡəˌtʃʊr]
Context: "writing & typography"
(noun) a ligature is a way of joining two or more letters together to make writing look nicer. It’s like when you write 'fi' as a single, fancy symbol instead of two separate letters.
Example
In some fonts, a ligature makes the words look more elegant.
Example
The text in that font did not use any ligatures and looked plain.
Example
Can you show me examples of ligatures in this book?
Context: "medical"
(noun) in medicine, a ligature is a thread or string used to tie something tightly, like a blood vessel. It helps stop bleeding or hold things together during surgery.
Example
The surgeon used a ligature to close the wound properly.
Example
Using a ligature incorrectly can lead to complications during an operation.
Example
Why is it important to use a ligature during surgery?
Context: "music"
(noun) in music, a ligature is a symbol that connects notes together. It shows that the notes should be played smoothly and connected, like a musical hug.
Example
The conductor pointed out the ligature in the sheet music so the musicians would play it smoothly.
Example
The lack of a ligature between those notes made them sound choppy.
Example
What does the ligature mean in this musical piece?