breve
1 synonym and 1 antonym for breve, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A curved mark placed above a vowel to show that it is pronounced short.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
micron
Antonyms
macron
How to use breve
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
a breve over the vowel
order a breve
semibreve and breve
The printing and music senses are technical, while the coffee sense is everyday café vocabulary.
Etymology
The diacritical mark and the musical note both trace back to Latin brevis, meaning short, passing into English through Old French brieve and Middle English breve. The coffee-drink sense is a separate, later borrowing taken directly from Italian breve.
Full origin of breve →Frequently asked questions
What is a breve in coffee?
It is a drink made with equal parts espresso and half-and-half cream, giving it a richer texture than a milk-based latte.
What does the breve symbol mean?
It is a curved mark placed over a vowel to show the vowel is short.
How long is a breve in music?
It is a note lasting twice as long as a semibreve, sometimes called a double whole note.
