Ligament definitions

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

LIG'AMENT, n. [L. ligamentum, from ligo, to bind, that is, to strain.]
1. Any thing that ties or unites one thing or part to another.
Interwoven is the love of liberty with every ligament of your hearts.
2. In anatomy, a strong, compact substance, serving to bind one bone to another. It is a white, solid inelastic, tendinous substance, softer than cartilage, but harder than membrane.
3. Bond; chain; that which binds or restrains.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a sheet or band of tough fibrous tissue connecting bones or cartilages or supporting muscles or organs
2: any connection or unifying bond

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English, from Medieval Latin & Latin; Medieval Latin ligamentum, from Latin, band, tie, from ligare Date: 14th century 1. a tough fibrous band of tissue connecting the articular extremities of bones or supporting an organ in place 2. a connecting or unifying bond <the law of nations, the great ligament of mankind — Edmund Burke> • ligamentous adjective

Britannica Concise

Tough fibrous band of connective tissue that supports internal organs and holds bones together properly in joints. It is composed of dense bundles of fibers and spindle-shaped cells (fibroblasts), with little ground substance. White ligament is rich in sturdy, inelastic collagen fibers; yellow ligament is rich in tough elastic fibers, which allow more movement. See also tendon.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 Anat. a a short band of tough flexible fibrous connective tissue linking bones together. b any membranous fold keeping an organ in position. 2 archaic a bond of union. Derivatives: ligamental adj. ligamentary adj. ligamentous adj. Etymology: ME f. L ligamentum bond f. ligare bind

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Ligament Lig"a*ment (l[i^]g"[.a]*ment), n. [L. ligamentum, fr. ligare to bind: cf. F. ligament. Cf. Lien, n., Ligature.] 1. Anything that ties or unites one thing or part to another; a bandage; a bond. --Hawthorne. Interwoven is the love of liberty with every ligament of your hearts. --Washington. 2. (Anat.) (a) A tough band or plate of dense, fibrous, connective tissue or fibrocartilage serving to unite bones or form joints. (b) A band of connective tissue, or a membranous fold, which supports or retains an organ in place; as, the gastrophrenic ligament, connecting the diaphragm and stomach.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(ligaments) A ligament is a band of strong tissue in a person's body which connects bones. He suffered torn ligaments in his knee. N-COUNT

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. Band, ligature.

Moby Thesaurus

bone, braid, brail, cable, cartilage, cord, knot, ligation, ligature, line, link, nexus, ossicle, rope, spun yarn, string, tendon, thong, tie, twine, twist, vinculum, wire, yarn, yoke