fermata

[ fer-mah-tuh; Italian fer-mah-tah ]
/ fɛrˈmɑ tə; Italian fɛrˈmɑ tɑ /

noun, plural fer·ma·tas, Italian fer·ma·te [fer-mah-te] /fɛrˈmɑ tɛ/. Music.

the sustaining of a note, chord, or rest for a duration longer than the indicated time value, with the length of the extension at the performer's discretion.
a symbol placed over a note, chord, or rest indicating a fermata.

Origin of fermata

1875–80; < Italian: stop, pause, noun use of feminine of past participle of fermare to stop < Latin firmāre to make firm. See firm1, -ate1

Words nearby fermata

fermanagh, fermat, fermat's last theorem, fermat's principle, fermat's theorem, fermata, ferment, fermentation, fermentation alcohol, fermentation lock, fermentative

Example sentences from the Web for fermata

British Dictionary definitions for fermata

fermata
/ (fəˈmɑːtə) /

noun plural -tas or -te (-tɪ)

music another word for pause (def. 5)

Word Origin for fermata

from Italian, from fermare to stop, from Latin firmāre to establish; see firm 1