ventriloquism

[ ven-tril-uh-kwiz-uh m ]
/ vɛnˈtrɪl əˌkwɪz əm /

noun

the art or practice of speaking, with little or no lip movement, in such a manner that the voice does not appear to come from the speaker but from another source, as from a wooden dummy.
Also called ven·tril·o·quy [ven-tril-uh-kwee] /vɛnˈtrɪl ə kwi/.

Origin of ventriloquism

1790–1800; ventriloqu(y) (< Medieval Latin ventriloquium, equivalent to Late Latin ventriloqu(us) a ventriloquist ( ventri- ventri- + -loquus, derivative of loquī to speak) + -ium -ium) + -ism

Words nearby ventriloquism

ventriculosubarachnoid, ventriculotomy, ventriculus, ventriduction, ventriloquial, ventriloquism, ventriloquist, ventriloquize, ventris, ventro-, ventrodorsal

Example sentences from the Web for ventriloquism

British Dictionary definitions for ventriloquism

ventriloquism

ventriloquy

/ (vɛnˈtrɪləˌkwɪzəm) /

noun

the art of producing vocal sounds that appear to come from another source

Derived forms of ventriloquism

ventriloquial (ˌvɛntrɪˈləʊkwɪəl) or ventriloqual (vɛnˈtrɪləkwəl), adjective ventriloquially, adverb ventriloquist, noun ventriloquistic, adjective

Word Origin for ventriloquism

C18: from Latin venter belly + loquī to speak