noun

1. any of various notational signs used in medieval church music, orig. put above words to be sung so as to show approximate pitch, melody line, etc.
2. in Gregorian chant, a specific musical note, often sustained, or a group of such notes

Etymology: Fr < ML neuma, prob. ult. < Syriac ne'mo, a sound, tone, song: altered in form and sense by assoc. with Gr neuma, a sign, pneuma, a breath