alla breve

1 of 2

noun

al·​la breve ˌa-lə-ˈbrev  ˌä-lə-ˈbre-(ˌ)vā 

: the sign marking a piece or passage to be played alla breve

also : a passage so marked

Illustration of alla breve

alla breve

2 of 2

adverb or adjective

: in duple or quadruple time with the beat represented by the half note

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Italian, literally, according to the breve

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1731, in the meaning defined above

Adverb Or Adjective

1740, in the meaning defined above