ligament

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. Anatomy A sheet or band of tough, fibrous tissue connecting bones or cartilages at a joint or supporting an organ.
2. n. A unifying or connecting tie or bond.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A connecting tie or band; anything that binds objects or their parts together; any bond of union, material or immaterial.
2. n. Specifically— In anatomy, a band of connective tissue serving to bind one part to another. Most ligaments have a particular shape, site, and office, and consequently receive special names. See phrases following.
3. n. In conchology, a band of uncalcified chitinous cuticular substance which unites the valves of a bivalve shell. It is usually elastic, and so disposed that when the valves are closed it is either compressed or put upon the stretch, in either of which opposite cases it antagonizes the action of the adductor muscles and tends to divaricate the valves.
4. n. Of the uterus, the fold of peritoneum which extends from the uterus to the pelvis on either side.
5. n. Of the liver, the impervious cord formed by the umbilical vein, passing from the navel to the under surface of the liver.
6. n. Of the uterus, a rounded cord on each side between the layers of the broad ligament, passing from the upper part of the womb to the internal abdominal ring and thence through the inguinal canal to the labia majora, consisting of fibrous, areolar, and some muscular tissue, with vessels and nerves inclosed in a fold of peritoneum. It corresponds in part to the spermatic cord of the male.
7. n. Of the mammæ, processes of the superficial thoracic fascia entering and supporting these glands.
8. n. Of the penis, the fibrous attachment of the root of the organ to the symphysis pubis.
9. n. Of the spleen, a fold of peritoneum connecting the spleen with the diaphragm.

Wiktionary

1. n. anatomy band of strong tissue that holds the bones of an animal in position

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. Anything that ties or unites one thing or part to another; a bandage; a bond.
2. n. A tough band or plate of dense, fibrous, connective tissue or fibrocartilage serving to unite bones or form joints.
3. n. A band of connective tissue, or a membranous fold, which supports or retains an organ in place.

WordNet 3.0

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