circa

[ Latin , approximately ]

Definition

1. A term that means about, around or approximately. It is most commonly used in approximate dates. It is usually abbreviated with the letters ca. For example, "ca. 1800 CE" would indicate that the approximate date is 1800 in the Common Era.

2. A term used to indicate tempo in metronome markings. So, "ca.=66" would indicate that the tempo should be "around" 66 beats per minute. This is a slow tempo in the range of adagio, lento or larghetto.

See Also

  • [Abbreviation] Ca.

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Last Updated: 2014-02-14 00:19:45