ligand

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin ligandus, gerundive of ligo (“bind”).

noun

1. (chemistry) A molecule or moiety (ion, functional group, or radical) that binds to another chemical entity to form a larger complex; as, especially:
   1. (coordination chemistry) Such an entity that binds to a central metal atom to form a coordination complex.
   2. (biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, medicine) Such an entity that forms a complex with a biomolecule to serve a biological purpose.
2. (<a href="/dictionary/word/typography">typographya>) A <a href="/dictionary/word/letter">lettera> that <a href="/dictionary/word/orthography">orthographya> requires or allows to be ligated with one or more other letters to form a <a href="/dictionary/word/ligature">ligaturea>, such as a in æ or o in œ.
   Holonym: ligature