---
title: ligature — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «ligature» in the school dictionary: A ligature is a thread, string or band used to tie something tightly, especially by a doctor to tie off a blood vessel. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# ligature

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** ligature, clamp, surgeon, Æ, Old books, fonts · **What happens:** be, use, tie, tie off, join, print · **To what, where:** thread, string, something, blood vessel, two letters, mark

<!-- .vabout -->
«ligature» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [ligature in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/ligature.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A ligature is a thread, string or band used to tie something tightly, especially by a doctor to tie off a blood vessel.

<!-- fold The tree, 23 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ligature:m1:1
# text = A ligature is a thread, string or band used to tie something tightly, especially by a doctor to tie off a blood vessel.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ligature	ligature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	thread	thread	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	string	string	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	appos	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	band	band	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	conj	_	_
10	used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	acl	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	tie	tie	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	advcl	_	_
13	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	12	obj	_	_
14	tightly	tightly	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
16	especially	especially	ADV	RB	_	19	advmod	_	_
17	by	by	ADP	IN	_	19	case	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	doctor	doctor	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	_
20	to	to	PART	TO	_	21	mark	_	_
21	tie	tie	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	19	acl	_	_
22	off	off	ADP	RP	_	21	compound:prt	_	_
23	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	25	det	_	_
24	blood	blood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	25	compound	_	_
25	vessel	vessel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	21	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
26	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a ligature | a thread |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **use** | participle |  | string or band *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **tie** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  | by a doctor; tightly *property* | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Patient |
| 4 | **tie off** | to-infinitive |  | a blood vessel |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent vessel=Patient |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: writing — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A ligature is two letters joined into one shape, like æ or œ, or «fi» in printed books.

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ligature:m2:1
# text = A ligature is two letters joined into one shape, like æ or œ, or «fi» in printed books.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ligature	ligature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	two	two	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	letters	letter	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	0	root	_	_
6	joined	join	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	5	acl	_	_
7	into	into	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	9	nummod	_	_
9	shape	shape	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
11	like	like	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	æ	æ	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
14	œ	œ	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	18	punct	_	_
16	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
17	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	fi	fi	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	18	punct	_	_
20	in	in	ADP	IN	_	22	case	_	_
21	printed	print	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	22	amod	_	_
22	books	book	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	18	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
23	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a ligature | two letters and æ or œ or fi in printed books |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **join** | participle |  | two letters and æ or œ or fi in printed books *not said here* |  |  |  | into one shape | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V PP.patient»: agent=Patient into shape=Co-Patient |
| 3 | **print** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .note -->
Usage: music — kept apart, not parsed.

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A ligature is a mark or clamp joining notes or holding a reed.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ligature:m3:1
# text = A ligature is a mark or clamp joining notes or holding a reed.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ligature	ligature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	mark	mark	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
7	clamp	clamp	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	_
8	joining	join	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	acl	_	_
9	notes	note	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	8	obj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	11	cc	_	_
11	holding	hold	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	8	conj	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	reed	reed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | a ligature | a mark or clamp |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **join** | gerund | clamp *not said here* | notes |  |  |  |  | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent note=Patient |
| 3 | **hold** | gerund | clamp *not said here* | a reed |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent reed=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The surgeon tied a ligature round the blood vessel.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ligature:x1:1
# text = The surgeon tied a ligature round the blood vessel.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	surgeon	surgeon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	tied	tie	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	ligature	ligature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	round	round	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	blood	blood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	vessel	vessel	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **tie** | past | the surgeon | a ligature |  |  |  | round the blood vessel | vn mix-22.1-2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ligature=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«Æ» is a ligature of «a» and «e».

<!-- fold The tree, 8 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ligature:x2:1
# text = «Æ» is a ligature of «a» and «e».
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Æ	Æ	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	ligature	ligature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	of	of	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
11	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	e	e	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	13	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | Æ | a ligature and e |  |  |  | of a | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Old books use ligatures like «œ».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ligature:x3:1
# text = Old books use ligatures like «œ».
1	Old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	books	book	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	use	use	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	ligatures	ligature	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	like	like	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	œ	œ	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | present | Old books | ligatures |  |  |  | like œ | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ligature=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The clarinet's reed is held by a ligature.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ligature:x4:1
# text = The clarinet's reed is held by a ligature.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	clarinet	clarinet	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nmod:poss	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	's	's	PART	POS	_	2	case	_	_
4	reed	reed	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj:pass	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	aux:pass	_	_
6	held	hold	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
7	by	by	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	ligature	ligature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **hold** | present · passive | a ligature | the clarinet's reed |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some fonts join «f» and «i» with a ligature.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ligature:x5:1
# text = Some fonts join «f» and «i» with a ligature.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	det	_	_
2	fonts	font	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	join	join	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	f	f	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
8	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	i	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	_
11	with	with	ADP	IN	_	13	case	_	_
12	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	ligature	ligature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **join** | present | some fonts | f |  |  |  | with a ligature | vn mix-22.1-2-1 «NP V PP.patient»: agent=Patient with ligature=Co-Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ligature stopped the bleeding.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ligature:x6:1
# text = The ligature stopped the bleeding.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	ligature	ligature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	stopped	stop	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	bleeding	bleeding	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **stop** | past | the ligature | the bleeding |  |  |  |  | vn stop-55.4-1-1 «NP V NP.eventuality»: agent=Subeventuality bleeding=Eventuality |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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