ferˈmäd.ə noun
( -s )
Etymology: Italian, stop, pause, from fermata (feminine of fermato, past participle of fermare to stop, from Latin firmare to make fast), from Latin firmata, feminine of firmatus, past participle of firmare
1. : a prolongation at the discretion of the performer of a musical note, chord, or rest beyond its given time value
2. : a sign consisting of a dot under or over a half circle placed over or under a note, chord, or rest indicating a fermata — called also hold, pause