continuant Hear it!

continuant definition

con·tinu·ant (kən tin′yo̵̅o̅ ənt)

noun

Etymology: ME < L continuans, prp.: see continue

Phonet. a speech sound that can be prolonged as long as the breath lasts, with no significant change in the quality of the sound: continuants include fricatives (s, f, t̸h, etc.), nasals (m, n, ŋ), liquids (l, r), and vowels

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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