You can mark you interesting snippets of text that will be available through a unique link in your browser.


consonant

Translation
consonant
—consonantlike, adj. —consonantly, adv.
/kon"seuh neuhnt/, n.
1. Phonet.
a. (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).
b. (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). Cf. vowel (def. 1b).
c. (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.
2. a letter that usually represents a consonant sound.
adj.
3. in agreement; agreeable; in accord; consistent (usually fol. by to or with): behavior consonant with his character.
4. corresponding in sound, as words.
5. harmonious, as sounds.
6. Music. constituting a consonance.
7. Physics. noting or pertaining to sounds exhibiting consonance.
8. consonantal.
[1350-1400; ME consona(u)nt ( < AF) < L consonant- (s. of consonans, prp. of consonare to sound with or together). See CON-, SONANT]
Syn. 3. concordant, congruous, conformant.
Ant. 6. dissonant.

* * *

Any speech sound characterized by an articulation in which a closure or narrowing of the vocal tract completely or partially blocks the flow of air; also, any letter or symbol representing such a sound.

Consonants are usually classified according to the place of articulation (e.g., palate, teeth, lips); the manner of articulation, as in stops (complete closure of the oral passage, released with a burst of air), fricatives (forcing of breath through a constricted passage), and trills (vibration of the tip of the tongue or the uvula); and the presence or absence of voicing, nasalization, aspiration, and other features.

* * *

      any speech sound, such as that represented by t, g, f, or z, that is characterized by an articulation with a closure or narrowing of the vocal tract such that a complete or partial blockage of the flow of air is produced. Consonants are usually classified according to place of articulation (the location of the stricture made in the vocal tract, such as dental, bilabial, or velar), the manner of articulation (the way in which the obstruction of the airflow is accomplished, as in stops, fricatives, approximants, trills, taps, and laterals), and the presence or absence of voicing, nasalization, aspiration, or other phonation. For example, the sound for s is described as a voiceless alveolar fricative; the sound for m is a voiced bilabial nasal stop. Additional classificatory information may indicate whether the airstream powering the production of the consonant is from the lungs (the pulmonary airstream mechanism) or some other airstream mechanism and whether the flow of air is ingressive or egressive. The production of consonants may also involve secondary articulations—that is, articulations additional to the place and manner of articulation defining the primary stricture in the vocal tract.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Synonyms:

  
Share  

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Consonant — Con so*nant, a. [L. consonans, antis; p. pr. of consonare to sound at the same time, agree; con + sonare to sound: cf. F. consonnant. See {Sound} to make a noise.] 1. Having agreement; congruous; consistent; according; usually followed by with or …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • consonant — * * * consonant, ante [ kɔ̃sɔnɑ̃, ɑ̃t ] adj. • v. 1165; lat. consonans, de consonare « résonner ensemble » ♦ Qui produit une consonance; est formé de consonances. Intervalles, accords consonants. Phrases consonantes. ⊗ CONTR. Dissonant. * * * ●… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • consonant — 1> фон. согласный звук 2> буква, обозначающая согласный звук 3> согласный Ex: the opinion is consonant to law это суждение не противоречит закону 4> (with) совместимый, сообразный Ex: your actions are not consonant with your principles ваши… …   Новый большой англо-русский словарь

  • Consonant — Con so*nant, n. [L. consonans, antis.] An articulate sound which in utterance is usually combined and sounded with an open sound called a vowel; a member of the spoken alphabet other than a vowel; also, a letter or character representing such a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • consonant — 1. noun 1) phon. согласный звук 2) буква, обозначающая согласныйзвук 2. adj. 1) согласный c (to); совместимый (with) 2) созвучный; гармоничный …   Англо-русский словарь Мюллера

  • Consonant — (v. lat., Mitlauter), Laut, welcher nur in Verbindung mit einem Vocal ausgesprochen werden kann, s. u. Laute …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Consonant — Consonant, in der Grammatik ein Buchstabe, dessen Laut nicht allein, sondern nur in Verbindung mit einem Selbstlauter, Vocal, ausgesprochen werden kann, Mitlaut …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon

  • consonant — I adjective accordant, adapted, agreeing, alike, answerable, appropriate, apt, arranged, at one, attuned, balanced, becoming, coherent, coincident commensurate, compatible, concerted, concordant, concurrent, conformable, conforming, congenial,… …   Law dictionary

  • Consonant — Not to be confused with the musical concept of consonance For the alternative rock group, see Consonant (band). Places of articulation Labial Bilabial Labial–velar Labial–coronal Labiodental …   Wikipedia

  • consonant — ˈkɔnsənənt 1. сущ. 1) фон. согласный звук articulate consonant pronounce a consonant dental consonant double consonant geminate consonant final consonant guttural consonant hard consonant labial consonant liquid consonant soft consonant unvoiced… …   Большой англо-русский и русско-английский словарь

  • consonant — I. adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Latin consonant , consonans, present participle of consonare to sound together, agree, from com + sonare to sound more at sound Date: 15th century 1. being in agreement or harmony ; free from elements… …   New Collegiate Dictionary