Dictionary.com

macron

[ mey-kron, mak-ron ]
/ ˈmeɪ krɒn, ˈmæk rɒn /
Save This Word!

noun Phonetics, Orthography.
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).
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
Question 1 of 7
Which sentence is correct?

Origin of macron

1850–55; noun use of Greek makrón, neuter of makrós long. See macro-
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use macron in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for macron

macron
/ (ˈmækrɒn) /

noun
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

Word Origin for macron

C19: from Greek makron something long, from makros long
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
FEEDBACK