ligand

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

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈlɪɡ.ənd/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈlɪɡ.ənd/, /ˈlaɪ.ɡənd/
• Rhymes: -ɪɡənd

ligand (plural ligands)

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.

   Holonym: complex

2. (typography) A letter that orthography requires or allows to be ligated with one or more other letters to form a ligature, such as a in æ or o in œ.

   Holonym: ligature

• coordination compound

• lading

ligand m (plural ligands)

1. ligand

• “ligand”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.