Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

ligament

/ˈlɪɡəmənt/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.34 in modern English

Syllables: lig-a-ment
IPA: /ˈlɪɡəmənt/

11

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

3

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A band of strong tissue that connects bones to other bones.

noun

That which binds or acts as a ligament.

Example Sentences

"It so chanced that at this juncture the decayed ligaments of the skeleton gave way, and the dry bones fell together in a heap, thus causing the dusty wreath of cypress to drop upon the table."
"Her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL) are torn and Vonn has a lateral fracture of the tibial plateau, the upper end of the tibia or shin bone."
"It remains to mention one consideration which naturally occurred in the reflections upon the expediency of assuming the State Debts. This is its tendency to strengthen our infant Government by increasing the number of ligaments between the Government and the interests of Individuals."
"1845, Daniel Webster, oration on Justice Joseph Story Justice is the ligament which holds civilized beings and civilized nations together."

Etymology

From Middle English ligament, from Latin ligāmentum, from ligō (“tie, bind”).

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: *leyǵ-, ligament, ligāmentum

Inflected Forms

ligaments (plural)

Derived Forms

ligamental ligamentary ligamentomuscular ligamentoplasty ligamentotaxis ligamentous multiligament

Phrases

acrocoracohumeral ligament anterolateral ligament broad ligament capsular ligament Cooper's ligament cruciate ligament cruciform ligament falciform ligament

Frequently Paired Words

sinew tendon

Questions

How do you pronounce ligament?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈlɪɡəmənt/.
What does ligament mean?: A band of strong tissue that connects bones to other bones.
Where does ligament come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce ligament

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “ligament”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈlɪɡəmənt/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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