['l?g?t??]
¦ noun
1. a thing used for tying something tightly.
a cord used in surgery, especially to tie up a bleeding artery.
2. Music a slur or tie.
3. Printing a character consisting of two or more joined letters, e.g. ?.
¦ verb bind or connect with a ligature.
Origin
ME: via late L. ligatura from L. ligat-, ligare 'to tie'.