fermata

F4E1R1M3A1T1A1
UK/ˌfɜːˈmɑːtə/US/ˌfɜːɹˈmɑtə/

noun

The holding of a note or rest for longer than its usual duration.

Similar
holdbird's-eye
OriginItalian fermata →
UncommonScrabble 12
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Meanings

nounfermata (countable and uncountable, plural fermatas or fermate)

plural fermatas · plural fermate

  1. countableuncountableentertainmentThe holding of a note or rest for longer than its usual duration.
  2. countableentertainmentThe notation ⟨◌͒⟩ of such a prolongation, usually represented as a dot with a semi-circle above or below it, written above or below the prolonged note or rest.

Synonyms & antonyms

Similar
holdbird's-eye

Origin

  1. Italianfermata
  2. Englishfermata

Borrowed from Italian fermata, from fermare (“to stop”).

More words from Italian

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 延長號 /延长号
  • 延長號 /延长号 (yánchánghào)holding a note beyond its usual duration or the notation representing it
Czech koruna
  • korunaholding a note beyond its usual duration or the notation representing it
Dutch fermate
  • fermateholding a note beyond its usual duration or the notation representing it
Finnish fermaatti
  • fermaattiholding a note beyond its usual duration or the notation representing it
French point d'orgue
  • point d'orgueholding a note beyond its usual duration or the notation representing it
German Fermate
  • Fermateholding a note beyond its usual duration or the notation representing it
Hebrew פֶרְמָטָה, שְׁהִי
  • פֶרְמָטָה (fermáta)holding a note beyond its usual duration or the notation representing it
  • שְׁהִי (shehí)holding a note beyond its usual duration or the notation representing it
Icelandic fermata
  • fermataholding a note beyond its usual duration or the notation representing it
Italian fermata
  • fermataholding a note beyond its usual duration or the notation representing it
Japanese フェルマータ
  • フェルマータ (ferumaata)holding a note beyond its usual duration or the notation representing it
Polish fermata
  • fermataholding a note beyond its usual duration or the notation representing it
Portuguese fermata
  • fermataholding a note beyond its usual duration or the notation representing it
Romanian fermata
  • fermataholding a note beyond its usual duration or the notation representing it
Russian фермата
  • фермата (fermata)holding a note beyond its usual duration or the notation representing it
Spanish calderón
  • calderónholding a note beyond its usual duration or the notation representing it
Swedish fermat
  • fermatholding a note beyond its usual duration or the notation representing it

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with fermata

datasonatastrataregattaerratacantatastigmataarrabbiataburratacassatainamorataonnagataterra sigillatavia ferrata
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

fermata. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fermata

MLA

“fermata.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fermata. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “fermata,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fermata.

Source: fermata on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.