semibreve

[ sem-ee-breev, -brev, sem-ahy- ]

noun

, Music (chiefly British).

1. a note half the length of a breve; whole note.

semibreve

/ ˈsɛmɪˌbriːv /

noun

1. music a note, now the longest in common use, having a time value that may be divided by any power of 2 to give all other notes Usual US and Canadian namewhole note See also breve

Word History and Origins

Origin of semibreve¹

First recorded in 1585–95; semi- + breve

Example Sentences

One day, when her mother was drawing little men, that turned out to be semibreves, Nancy, speechless with anger, put her hand to her soft hair, and dragged out a handful of it.

From Project Gutenberg

John Kane permitted to the salutation the full time due to it, in the manner of one who counts a semibreve rest, while the cart moved implacably onwards.

From Project Gutenberg

The twelve o'clock effect is curiously given by twelve sforzato semibreves on muted horns, beginning pianissimo, and swelling up until the twelfth note is given triple fortissimo.

From Project Gutenberg

The seven last letters of each series stand for the seven musical notes—the first series representing quavers, the second minims, the third semibreves, the fourth crotchets.

From Project Gutenberg

This big note with a hole in it is a semibreve and it counts four of these black notes, which are called crotchets.

From Project Gutenberg