alla breve definitions

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a musical time signature indicating two or four half notes to a measure

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Italian, literally, according to the breve Date: circa 1740 the sign marking a piece or passage to be played alla breve; also a passage so marked II. adverb or adjective Date: circa 1823 in duple or quadruple time with the beat represented by the half note

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. Mus. a time signature indicating 2 or 4 minim beats in a bar. Etymology: It., = at the BREVE

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Alla breve Al`la bre"ve [It., according to the breve.] (Old Church Music) With one breve, or four minims, to measure, and sung faster like four crotchets; in quick common time; -- indicated in the time signature by ?.