obstruent

[ ob-stroo-uh nt ]
/ ˈɒb stru ənt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR obstruent ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

Medicine/Medical. (of a substance) producing an obstruction.
Phonetics. (of a speech sound) characterized by stoppage or obstruction of the flow of air from the lungs. Compare sonorant.

noun

Medicine/Medical. a medicine that closes the natural passages of the body.
Phonetics. an obstruent speech sound; a stop, fricative, or affricate. Compare sonorant(def 2).

Origin of obstruent

1660–70; < Latin obstruent- (stem of obstruēns, present participle of obstruere); see obstruct, -ent

OTHER WORDS FROM obstruent

un·ob·stru·ent, adjective un·ob·stru·ent·ly, adverb

Words nearby obstruent

obstructive dysmenorrhea, obstructive hydrocephalus, obstructive jaundice, obstructive murmur, obstructive thrombus, obstruent, obtain, obtaining by deception, obtect, obtemper, obtest

British Dictionary definitions for obstruent

obstruent
/ (ˈɒbstrʊənt) med /

adjective

causing obstruction, esp of the intestinal tract

noun

anything that causes obstruction

Word Origin for obstruent

C17: from Latin obstruere to obstruct

Medical definitions for obstruent

obstruent
[ ŏb′strōō-ənt ]

adj.

Obstructing or closing the natural passages of the body.

n.

An obstruent medicine or agent.