A
fermata (also known as a
hold,
pause, colloquially a
birdseye or
cyclops eye, or as a
grand pause when placed on a
note or a
rest) is a symbol of
musical notation indicating that the
note should be prolonged beyond its normal duration or
note value would indicate. Exactly how much longer it is held is up to the discretion of the performer or conductor, but twice as long is not unusual. It is usually printed above, but occasionally below (upside down), the note that is to be held longer.