The Collaborative International Dictionary
Vinculum \Vin"cu*lum\, n.; pl. L. Vincula, E. Vinculums.
A bond of union; a tie.
(Math.) A straight, horizontal mark placed over two or more members of a compound quantity, which are to be subjected to the same operation, as in the expression x^ 2 + y^ 2 - vinc x + y.
(Anat.) A band or bundle of fibers; a fr[ae]num.
(Zo["o]l.) A commissure uniting the two main tendons in the foot of certain birds.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
plural vincula, "a bond, tie," 1670s, from Latin vinculum "that with which anything is bound," from stem of vincire "to bind" (see wind (v.1)).
Wiktionary
n. 1 A bond or link signifying union. 2 (context arithmetic obsolete English) Any symbol used to group some of the terms in an expression, indicating that that part of the calculation should be done before other parts. 3 (context arithmetic English) A horizontal line over the top of some of the terms in an expression, indicating that that part of the calculation is to be done before other parts. 4 (context Australia arithmetic English) ''Specifically'', the horizontal line between the numerator and denominator in a fraction. 5 (context anatomy English) A ligament that limits the movement of an organ or part.
Wikipedia
In anatomy, a vinculum (pl. vincula) is a band of connective tissue, similar to a ligament, that connect a flexor tendon to a phalanx bone. They contain tiny vessels which supply blood to the tendon. In vertebrate anatomy, they are referred to as mesotendons.
For example, in the fingers and toes of humans and related vertebrates, vincula are responsible for the direct vascularization of the flexor digitorum superficialis and profundus tendons to the intermediate and distal phalanges in each finger. These vincula are four folds in the synovial membrane that carry blood vessels to the body and insertion of the tendon. The tendon receives some additional nutrition directly from the synovial fluid in the sheath, which is important in case of partial loss of direct vascularization from the vincula.
In the chick, vincula are much larger and more complex than in humans. Though they contain blood vessels, these only make up a very limited portion of the total mass of the vincula, most of whom consists of collagen and elastic fibres.
A vinculum is also found in insects' male genitalia. Unlike the vertebrate structures, it is part of the exoskeleton, being formed by the ventral part of the ninth abdominal segment. It retains the aedeagus and the clasper attaches to it.
A vinculum is a horizontal line used in mathematical notation for a specific purpose. It is most commonly used today to indicate the repetend of a repeating decimal. It may be placed as an overline (or underline) over (under) a mathematical expression to indicate that the expression is to be considered grouped together. For most of its uses it has been replaced by parentheses in modern notational style.
Vinculum is Latin for "bond", "fetter", "chain", or "tie", which is suggestive of some of the uses of the symbol.
A vinculum (pl. vincula) is a bond or tie, specifically:
- Vinculum (symbol), a mathematical symbol used for grouping
- Vinculum (ligament), a ligament that limits movement
- The fictional heart of a ship of the Borg (Star Trek) from the Star Trek franchise
Usage examples of "vinculum".
It felt better to wear out my frustrations by the use of my legs, and so I resolved to follow the capering street to the top if need be and see the Vincula and Acies Castle from that height, and then to show my badge of office to the guards at the fortifications there and walk along them to the Capulus and so cross the river by the lowest way.
Far worse was the thought of the clavigers I had until now commanded fanning out from the Vincula.
So at least I had heard from my subordinates at the Vincula, for eclectics made up more than half the prisoners there.
But the right to put to death looks like vengeance, and the division of the body shows that the debt was conceived very literally to inhere in or bind the body with a vinculum juris.
The waterfall above Casdoe's house wove its silver columns before my eyes, and I remembered the Vatic Fountain of the House Absolute, and the rush of water from the cliff top in Thrax when I opened the sluice gate to flood the Vincula.
Although regarded as a conservative—as well as something of a reactionary—by the Vincula, she had finally embraced some of the new architecture spreading through the Frame.
She had even argued on their behalf before the Vincula, back when there had been a chance of reconciliation.
The Vincula had posted the repeated stretches across the system in the hope that someone would crack it.
Everyone else in the Vincula or the Gezim went about life as always, so full of richness and complexity that looking elsewhere for wonder was as ridiculous as begging for more freedom with which to enjoy it.
Ordinarily, the security provided by the Vincula for its Urges would be sufficient to keep any intrusion at bay.
Getting top-strata information out of the Vincula wasn’t easy, and security was tough if caught in midattack.
While there was still a chance the breach could be sealed, the Vincula fought back with all the violence and temerity of antibodies attacking a virus.
They might lump themselves in with the Vincula or the Gezim or go it alone as Hatzis and Sulich preferred, but in the end, all those who had survived the Spike were following their own muse.
Still, the great irony—that the Vincula was humanity’s greatest achievement as much as it threatened to become its ultimate downfall—haunted Hatzis in all her povs.
The sad thing was that most people wouldn’t genuinely care if she had cracked Shalhoub’s remote, or even if the Vincula had a thousand secrets they were keeping from the rest of humanity.