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

1 in modern prosody : a usually rhetorical break in the flow of sound in the middle of a line of verse
2 Greek & Latin prosody : a break in the flow of sound in a verse caused by the ending of a word within a foot
3 : break, interruption
4 : a pause marking a rhythmic point of division in a melody

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