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ligand

Syllabification: (li·gand)
Pronunciation: /ˈligənd, ˈlī-/
Definition of ligand

noun

Chemistry
  • an ion or molecule attached to a metal atom by coordinate bonding.
  • Biochemistry a molecule that binds to another (usually larger) molecule.

Origin:

1950s: from Latin ligandus 'that can be tied', gerundive of ligare 'to bind'

ligand in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of ligand in the British & World English dictionary
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