neume

noun

ˈnüm

ˈnyüm

: any of various symbols used in the notation of Gregorian chant

neumatic

nu̇-ˈma-tik

nyu̇-

adjective

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Medieval Latin pneuma, neuma, from Greek pneuma breath — more at pneumatic

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of neume was in the 14th century

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Browse Nearby Words

Neumann

neume

Neumünster

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Neume.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neume. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.

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