1. a musical notation (over a note or chord or rest) that indicates it is to be prolonged by an unspecified amount;
2. (music) a prolongation of unspecified length on a note or chord or rest;
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
fermata
n 1: a musical notation (over a note or chord or rest) that
indicates it is to be prolonged by an unspecified amount
2: (music) a prolongation of unspecified length on a note or
chord or rest