ligament

[ lig-uh-muhnt ]

noun

1. Anatomy, Zoology. a band of tissue, usually white and fibrous, serving to connect bones, hold organs in place, etc.
2. a tie or bond:

   The desire for personal freedom is a ligament uniting all peoples.

ligament

/ ˈlɪɡəmənt /

noun

1. anatomy any one of the bands or sheets of tough fibrous connective tissue that restrict movement in joints, connect various bones or cartilages, support muscles, etc
2. any physical or abstract connection or bond

ligament

/ lĭg′ə-mənt /

1. A sheet or band of tough fibrous tissue that connects two bones or holds an organ of the body in place.

ligament

1. A kind of fibrous connective tissue that binds bones or cartilage together.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ligament¹

1375–1425; late Middle English < Medieval Latin ligāmentum, Latin: bandage, equivalent to ligā ( re ) to tie + -mentum -ment

Word History and Origins

Origin of ligament¹

C14: from Medieval Latin ligāmentum, from Latin (in the sense: bandage), from ligāre to bind

Example Sentences

The hit also tore his lateral cruciate ligament, shredded the cartilage in his knee and tore the hamstring off the bone.

From Los Angeles Times

She signed a new two-year contract in June but has not played since January because of a knee ligament injury.

From BBC

Questions were naturally raised about whether the ligament injury would rule her out of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, which have got under way this week in Malaga.

From BBC

Returning from a torn anterior cruciate ligament injury is Leia Edwards.

From Los Angeles Times

The former Ipswich and Bournemouth defender was making his first appearance in the competition, having only recently returned from 14 months out with a cruciate ligament injury.

From BBC

Related Words

• association
• channel
• contact
• element
• hookup
• network
• relationship
• tie