liaison
UK: liˈeɪ.zɒn | US: ˈli.ə.zɑːn
n. 1. A connection or communication between groups or individuals.
n. 2. A person who acts as a link to facilitate cooperation.
n. 3. (Culinary) A thickening agent for sauces, typically a mixture of egg yolks and cream.
Derived from Old French liaison (meaning "a binding"), which traces back to Latin ligationem (from ligare "to bind"). The term originally described physical or metaphorical connections, later expanding to military, diplomatic, and culinary contexts. The French spelling preserved the Latin root lia- (bound), while -ison evolved as a noun-forming suffix.
She serves as a liaison between the marketing and engineering teams.
The two companies established a liaison to share resources.
The sauce requires a liaison of egg yolks and cream.
Military liaisons coordinated the joint operation.
Effective liaison is crucial for international diplomacy.