breve

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. A symbol ( ˘ ) placed over a vowel to show that it has a short sound, as the a in bat.
2. n. A curved mark used to indicate a short or unstressed syllable of verse.
3. n. Music A note equivalent to two whole notes.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. In music: The third variety of note used by medieval musicians, having one half or one third the value or duration of a long note, or longa: its form was (.b) In modern notation, the longest note used, having double the duration of a semibreve. Its form is either or . It occurs rarely, since the semibreve or whole note is commonly regarded as the longest note necessary, and as the standard to which all other notes are to be referred.
2. n. In law, a writ; a brief.
3. n. In writing and printing, a mark (˘) used to indicate that the vowel over which it is placed is short.
4. n. In prosody, a short syllable.
5. n. [⟨ F. bref, fem, brève, short; from their short tails.] A name sometimes given to the ant-thrushes of the family Pittidæ. Also called brachyure. See Brachyurus, 2.
6. To write down; describe.
7. To enter in a book; book; brief.
8. To tell; say.

Wiktionary

1. n. orthography A semicircular diacritical mark: 〈˘〉 placed above a vowel.
2. n. music, UK A double whole note.
3. n. law Any writ or precept under seal, issued out of any court.
4. n. printing A curved mark used commonly to indicate the short quantity of a vowel.
5. n. zoology The great ant thrush of Sumatra (Pitta gigas), which has a very short tail.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. (Mus.) A note or character of time, equivalent to two semibreves or four minims. When dotted, it is equal to three semibreves. It was formerly of a square figure (as thus: � ), but is now made oval, with a line perpendicular to the staff on each of its sides; -- formerly much used for choir service.
2. n. (Law) Any writ or precept under seal, issued out of any court.
3. n. (Print.) A curved mark [˘] used commonly to indicate the short quantity of a vowel.
4. n. (Zoöl.) The great ant thrush of Sumatra (Pitta gigas), which has a very short tail.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. a diacritical mark (U-shaped) placed over a vowel to indicate a short sound