A circumflex or a circumflex accent is a symbol written over a vowel in French and other languages, usually to indicate that it should be pronounced longer than usual. It is used for example in the word 'rôle'.
circumflex in British English
(ˈsɜːkəmˌflɛks)
noun
1.
a mark (^) placed over a vowel to show that it is pronounced with rising and falling pitch, as in ancient Greek, as a long vowel rather than a short one, as in French, or with some other different quality
adjective
2.
(of certain nerves, arteries, or veins) bending or curving around
Derived forms
circumflexion (ˌcircumˈflexion)
noun
Word origin
C16: from Latin circumflexus, from circumflectere to bend around, from circum- + flectere to bend
circumflex in American English
(ˈsɜrkəmˌflɛks)
noun
1.
a mark (^ or ˜) used over certain vowel letters in the orthography of some languages to indicate a specific sound or quality, or used in certain systems of symbols for representing speech sounds: in modern use, as in French, the form (^) is the most common
: also circumflex accent
adjective
2.
of, with, or marked by a circumflex
3.
bending around; curved
verb transitive
4. Rare
to bend around; curve
5.
to write with a circumflex
Derived forms
circumflexion (ˌcircumˈflexion) (ˈsɜrkəmˈflɛkʃən)
noun
Word origin
L circumflexus, pp. of circumflectere < circum, around + flectere, to bend