3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Vowel  \Vow"el\,  n.  [F.  voyelle  or  an  OF  form  without  y,  L. 
  vocalis  (sc.  littera),  from  vocalis  sounding,  from  vox, 
  vocis,  a  voice,  sound.  See  {Vocal}.]  (Phon.) 
  A  vocal,  or  sometimes  a  whispered,  sound  modified  by 
  resonance  in  the  oral  passage,  the  peculiar  resonance  in  each 
  case  giving  to  each  several  vowel  its  distinctive  character 
  or  quality  as  a  sound  of  speech;  --  distinguished  from  a 
  {consonant}  in  that  the  latter,  whether  made  with  or  without 
  vocality,  derives  its  character  in  every  case  from  some  kind 
  of  obstructive  action  by  the  mouth  organs.  Also  a  letter  or 
  character  which  represents  such  a  sound.  See  Guide  to 
  Pronunciation,  [sect][sect]  5,  146-149. 
 
  Note:  In  the  English  language,  the  written  vowels  are  a,  e, 
  i,  o,  u,  and  sometimes  w  and  y.  The  spoken  vowels  are 
  much  more  numerous. 
 
  {Close  vowel}.  See  under  {Close},  a. 
 
  {Vowel  point}.  See  under  {Point},  n. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Vowel  \Vow"el\,  a. 
  Of  or  pertaining  to  a  vowel;  vocal. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  vowel 
  n  1:  a  speech  sound  made  with  the  vocal  tract  open  [syn:  {vowel 
  sound}]  [ant:  {consonant}] 
  2:  a  letter  of  the  alphabet  standing  for  a  spoken  vowel 

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