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macron

American  
[may-kron, mak-ron] / ˈmeɪ krɒn, ˈmæk rɒn /

noun

Phonetics, Orthography.
  1. a horizontal line used as a diacritic over a vowel to indicate that it has a long sound or other specified pronunciation, as (ā) in fate (fāt).


macron British  
/ ˈmækrɒn /

noun

  1. a diacritical mark (¯) placed over a letter, used in prosody, in the orthography of some languages, and in several types of phonetic respelling systems, to represent a long vowel

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of macron

1850–55; noun use of Greek makrón, neuter of makrós long. See macro-

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

In addition, the text contains two instances of a single m with a macron over it, signifying a double m.

From A Righte Merrie Christmasse The Story of Christ-Tide by Arthur C. Behrend

This book contains Greek and other characters, including an e with caron, ě, and vowels with macron, ī and ō.

From Witch, Warlock, and Magician Historical Sketches of Magic and Witchcraft in England and Scotland by W. H. Davenport (William Henry Davenport) Adams

There are also a few Greek words in the Index, and a handful of letters with overline or macron, such as ī.

From Early English Alliterative Poems in the West-Midland Dialect of the Fourteenth Century by Richard Morris

Use of the macron is not consistent throughout the text... ...and the spelling of some place names is not consistent either: e.g.

From A Peep into Toorkisthhan by Rollo Gillespie Burslem

Index: Entry for borrowing, reference to kō missing the macron.

From The Foundations of Japan Notes Made During Journeys Of 6,000 Miles In The Rural Districts As A Basis For A Sounder Knowledge Of The Japanese People by J.W. Robertson Scott

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