consonant
[ kon-suh-nuhnt ]
/ ˈkɒn sə nənt /
noun
Phonetics.
- (in English articulation) a speech sound produced by occluding with or without releasing (p, b; t, d; k, g), diverting (m, n, ng), or obstructing (f, v; s, z, etc.) the flow of air from the lungs (opposed to vowel).
- (in a syllable) any sound other than the sound of greatest sonority in the syllable, as b, r, and g in brig (opposed to sonant).Compare vowel(def 1b).
- (in linguistic function) a concept empirically determined as a phonological element in structural contrast with vowel, as the b of be, the w of we, the y, s, and t of yeast, etc.
a letter that usually represents a consonant sound.
adjective
Origin of consonant
SYNONYMS FOR consonant
OTHER WORDS FROM consonant
con·so·nant·like, adjective con·so·nant·ly, adverb un·con·so·nant, adjectiveWords nearby consonant
Example sentences from the Web for consonants
British Dictionary definitions for consonants
consonant
/ (ˈkɒnsənənt) /
noun
a speech sound or letter of the alphabet other than a vowel; a stop, fricative, or continuant
adjective
(postpositive; foll by with or to)
consistent; in agreement
harmonious in tone or sound
music
characterized by the presence of a consonance
being or relating to a consonant
Derived forms of consonant
consonantly, adverbWord Origin for consonant
C14: from Latin
consonāns, from
consonāre to sound at the same time, be in harmony, from
sonāre to sound
Cultural definitions for consonants
consonants
Letters of the alphabet that stand for sounds often made with a closed or partially closed mouth: B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, X, Z, and sometimes Y (as in yellow). (Compare vowels.)