breve Meaning, Definition & Usage

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

WordNet

Breve noun
Etymology
It. & (in sense 2) LL. breve, fr. L. brevis short. See Brief.
Definitions
  1. (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. Moore.
  2. (Law) Any writ or precept under seal, issued out of any court.
  3. (Print.) A curved mark [˘] used commonly to indicate the short quantity of a vowel.
  4. (Zoöl.) The great ant thrush of Sumatra (Pitta gigas), which has a very short tail.

Webster 1913