n. & v.
n. 1 a tie or bandage, esp. in surgery for a bleeding artery etc. 2 Mus. a slur; a tie. 3 Printing two or more letters joined, e.g. . 4 a bond; a thing that unites. 5 the act of tying or binding.
v.tr. bind or connect with a ligature.
[ ME f. LL ligatura f. L ligare ligat- tie, bind ]