| n. | 1. | (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, 197-208. |
| Noun | 1. | spirant - a continuant consonant produced by breath moving against a narrowing of the vocal tract Synonyms: fricative, fricative consonant |
| Adj. | 1. | spirant - of speech sounds produced by forcing air through a constricted passage (as `f', `s', `z', or `th' in both `thin' and `then') |