Main Entry:

cae·su·ra

Pronunciation:

\si-ˈzyu̇r-ə, -ˈzhu̇r-\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural cae·suras or cae·su·rae \-ˈzyu̇r-(ˌ)ē, -ˈzhu̇r-\

Etymology:

Late Latin, from Latin, act of cutting, from caedere to cut

Date:

1556

1in modern prosody : a usually rhetorical break in the flow of sound in the middle of a line of verse2Greek & Latin prosody : a break in the flow of sound in a verse caused by the ending of a word within a foot3: break, interruption4: a pause marking a rhythmic point of division in a melody

— cae·su·ral \-ˈzyu̇r-əl, -ˈzhu̇r-\ adjective