ligature

noun

• 1a thing used for tying or binding something tightly: there was no sign of the ligature which strangled her
• a cord or thread 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. æ, fl.
• a stroke that joins adjacent letters in writing or printing.

verb

• bind or connect with a ligature: he ligatured the duodenum below the pylorus