Noun
A note or character of time, equivalent to two semibreves or four minims. When dotted, it is equal to three semibreves. It was formerly of a square figure (as thus: / ), but is now made oval, with a line perpendicular to the staff on each of its sides; -- formerly much used for choir service.
Any writ or precept under seal, issued out of any court.
A curved mark [/] used commonly to indicate the short quantity of a vowel.
The great ant thrush of Sumatra (Pitta gigas), which has a very short tail.
Source: Webster's dictionaryBy the 16th century, the tactus was generally two semibreves per breve, with three per breve used for special effects and climactic sections. Source: Internet
In modern notation, it is used in place of main and is called alla breve or, colloquially, cut time or cut common time. Source: Internet
The relation between the breve and the semibreve was called tempus, and the relation between the semibreve and the minim was called prolatio. Source: Internet
For Vitry the breve could be divided, for an entire composition, or section of one, into groups of two or three smaller semibreves. Source: Internet
Petrus is credited with the innovation of writing more than three semibreves to fit the length of a breve. Source: Internet
There are complicated rules concerning how a breve is sometimes three and sometimes two semibreves. Source: Internet