browse words by letter
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z
spirant |
2 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Spirant \Spi"rant\, n. [L. spirans, -antis, p. pr of spirare to breathe. See {Spirit}.] (Phon.) A term used differently by different authorities; -- by some as equivalent to fricative, -- that is as including all the continuous consonants, except the nasals m, n, ng with the further exception, by others of the liquids r, l, and the semivowels w, y; by others limited to f, v, th surd and sonant, and the sound of German ch -- thus excluding the sibilants, as well as the nasals, liquids, and semivowels. See Guide to Pronunciation, [sect][sect] 197-208. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: spirant adj : produced by forcing air through a constricted passage (as `f'. `s', `z', or `th' (in both `thin' and `then')) [syn: {fricative}, {sibilant}] n : a continuant consonant produced by breath moving against a narrowing of the vocal tract [syn: {fricative consonant}, {fricative}]
more about spirant
This work is licensed under a
