macron

noun

ma·​cron ˈmā-ˌkrän How to pronounce macron (audio)
ˈma-,
-krən How to pronounce macron (audio)
: a mark placed over a vowel to indicate that the vowel is long or placed over a syllable or used alone to indicate a stressed or long syllable in a metrical foot

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Greek makrón, neuter of makrós "long (in time)" — more at macro-

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of macron was in 1851

Dictionary Entries Near macron

Cite this Entry

“Macron.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/macron. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

macron

noun
ma·​cron ˈmāk-ˌrän How to pronounce macron (audio) ˈmak- How to pronounce macron (audio)
-rən
: a mark placed over a vowel (as in \māk\) to show that the vowel is long

Biographical Definition

Macron

biographical name

Ma·​cron mä-ˈkrōⁿ How to pronounce Macron (audio)
Emmanuel (Jean-Michel Frédéric) 1977–    president of France (2017–  )
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