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Ligature: meaning, definitions and examples

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ligature

 

[ หˆlษชษกษ™tสƒษ™r ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

typography, medicine

A ligature is a character or combination of characters that are joined together to form a single unit in writing or printing. In typography, ligatures are used to improve visual appearance and readability, particularly in serif fonts where letters may touch or overlap. In medicine, a ligature can refer to a thread or wire used to tie something tightly, often used in surgical procedures. Ligatures play an important role in both style and function, enhancing the clarity of written text and serving practical purposes in healthcare.

Synonyms

attachment, bond, tie

Examples of usage

  • The word โ€˜fiโ€™ is often written as a ligature in printed text.
  • Doctors used a ligature to secure a blood vessel during surgery.
  • In typography, ligatures ensure that letters like โ€˜fโ€™ and โ€˜iโ€™ connect smoothly.

Translations

Translations of the word "ligature" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น ligadura

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคธเค‚เคฏเฅ‹เคœเคจ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Ligatur

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ ligatur

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะปั–ะณะฐั‚ัƒั€ะฐ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ ligatura

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใƒชใ‚ฌใƒใƒฃ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท ligature

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ ligadura

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท ligatรผr

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋ฆฌ๊ฐ‡์ถ”์–ด

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุฑุจุท

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ligatura

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ ligatรบra

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ่ฟžๅญ—

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ ligatura

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ ligatura

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะปะธะณะฐ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒšแƒ˜แƒ’แƒแƒขแƒฃแƒ แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ligatura

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ ligadura

Etymology

The term โ€˜ligatureโ€™ originates from the Latin word โ€˜ligareโ€™, meaning โ€˜to bindโ€™. This root is fitting as ligatures essentially serve to bind letters together in written form. The use of ligatures in typography can be traced back to early typesetting practices in the 15th century, where printers sought ways to create more visually appealing and space-efficient text. By combining certain characters into a single glyph, typesetters achieved a cleaner look while also mitigating the risks of overlapping letters. Throughout history, ligatures have evolved, with different languages and dialects adopting unique representations. In the medical field, ligatures have been utilized since antiquity, primarily for surgical procedures, to manage bleeding and secure bodily structures. Today, ligatures continue to hold significance in both typography and medicine, illustrating the diverse applications of the word in different contexts.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #18,566, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.