sibilance

Variant of sibilant

sibilant definition

sibi·lant (sib′ə lənt)

adjective

  1. having or making a hissing sound
  2. Phonet. articulated with such a sound, as (s), (z), (s̸h), (z̸h), (c̸h), and (j)

Etymology: L sibilans < sibilare, to hiss

noun

a sibilant consonant: a type of fricative

Related Forms:

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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