obstruent Hear it!

obstruent Definition

ob·stru·ent (äb′stro̵̅o̅ ənt)

adjective

Rare obstructing; esp., blocking a passage of the body

Etymology: L obstruens, prp. of obstruere, to block up: see obstruct

noun

Rare something, as a kidney stone, that blocks a passage of the body

obstruent Usage Examples

Converse of object

voice: Voiced obstruents can stand only before vowels, sonorants and voiced obstruents in the same word.

Adjective modifier

  • voiceless: Languages cannot have voiced obstruents unless they have voiceless obstruents.
  • previous: The range over which the velum opens depends on when the previous obstruent was, and whether it was nasal.