Macron

A macron (/ˈmækrɒn, ˈmeɪ-/) is a diacritical mark, a straight bar (¯) placed above a letter, usually a vowel. Its name derives from the Greek μακρόν (makrón), meaning "long", and was originally used to mark long or heavy syllables in Greco-Roman metrics. It now more often marks a long vowel. In the International Phonetic Alphabet, the macron is used to indicate a mid-tone; the sign for a long vowel is instead a modified triangular colon ⟨ː⟩.

The opposite is the breve ⟨˘⟩, which marks a short or light syllable or a short vowel.

Uses

Syllable weight

In Greco-Roman metrics and in the description of the metrics of other literatures, the macron was introduced and is still widely used to mark a long (heavy) syllable. Even relatively recent classical Greek and Latin dictionaries are still concerned with indicating only the length (weight) of syllables; that is why most still do not indicate the length of vowels in syllables that are otherwise metrically determined. Many textbooks about Ancient Rome and Greece use the macron even if it was not actually used at that time.

Macron (sportswear)

Macron S.p.A. is an Italian sporting apparel company, based in Crespellano, Bologna. It is considered a European leader in the production of active sportswear.

Macron operates in three main business areas:

History

Macron was founded in 1971 as a distributor of American sportswear brands in Italy. A major expansion of the organization took place in 1994, coincident with relocation and consolidation to Crespellano.

Macron began providing teamwear to professional football in 2001, its first contract being with Bologna. Expansion beyond the domestic Italian market began in 2005.

In 2014, Macron secured a four—year agreement with Bolton Wanderers for naming rights to their home stadium, resulting in renaming in July 2014 to Macron Stadium. Macron supplanted Reebok as the stadium namesake, and will provide the club's kit.

Macron (disambiguation)

The macron is a diacritic mark. "Macron" may also refer to:

See also