Syllable definition
Any of the parts into which a written word is often divided, as at the end of a line, in approximate conformity to the spoken syllables.
noun
To pronounce in or as in syllables.
verb
The slightest bit of spoken or written expression.
Do not alter a syllable of this message.
noun
To pronounce in syllables.
verb
A unit of spoken language consisting of a single uninterrupted sound formed by a vowel, diphthong, or syllabic consonant alone, or by any of these sounds preceded, followed, or surrounded by one or more consonants.
noun
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The definition of a syllable is a part of a word that is pronounced with one uninterrupted sound.
An example of syllable is "kit" in the word kitchen.
noun
(linguistics) A unit of human speech that is interpreted by the listener as a single sound, although syllables usually consist of one or more vowel sounds, either alone or combined with the sound of one or more consonants; a word consists of one or more syllables.
noun
The least bit of expression; slightest detail, as of something said.
noun
One or more letters or phonetic symbols written or printed to approximate a spoken syllable.
noun
The written representation of a given pronounced syllable.
noun
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A small part of a sentence or discourse; anything concise or short; a particle.
noun
A word or part of a word pronounced with a single, uninterrupted sounding of the voice; unit of pronunciation, consisting of a single sound of great sonority (usually a vowel) and generally one or more sounds of lesser sonority (usually consonants)
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun
Singular:
syllable
Plural:
syllablesOrigin of syllable
- Middle English sillable from Anglo-Norman alteration of Old French sillabe from Latin syllaba from Greek sullabē from sullabein second aorist of sullambanein to combine in pronunciation sun- syn- lambanein to take
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- Middle English and Middle French sillabe, from Latin syllaba, from Ancient Greek συλλαβή (sullabÄ“), from συλλαμβάνω (sullambanō, “I gather together"), from συν- (sun-, “together") + λαμβάνω (lambanō, “I take").
From Wiktionary