SIBILANT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does sibilant mean? 

• SIBILANT (noun)
  The noun SIBILANT has 1 sense:

1. a consonant characterized by a hissing sound (like s or sh)

  Familiarity information: SIBILANT used as a noun is very rare.

• SIBILANT (adjective)
  The adjective SIBILANT has 1 sense:

1. of speech sounds produced by forcing air through a constricted passage (as 'f', 's', 'z', or 'th' in both 'thin' and 'then')

  Familiarity information: SIBILANT used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SIBILANT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A consonant characterized by a hissing sound (like s or sh)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

sibilant; sibilant consonant

Hypernyms ("sibilant" is a kind of...):

fricative; fricative consonant; spirant (a continuant consonant produced by breath moving against a narrowing of the vocal tract)

Derivation:

assibilate (change into a sibilant)

assibilate (insert a sibilant sound before or after (another sound))

sibilant (of speech sounds produced by forcing air through a constricted passage (as 'f', 's', 'z', or 'th' in both 'thin' and 'then'))

sibilate (express or utter with a hiss)

sibilate (utter a sibilant)

sibilate (pronounce with an initial sibilant)

• SIBILANT (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Of speech sounds produced by forcing air through a constricted passage (as 'f', 's', 'z', or 'th' in both 'thin' and 'then')

Synonyms:

continuant; fricative; sibilant; spirant; strident

Similar:

soft ((of speech sounds); produced with the back of the tongue raised toward the hard palate; characterized by a hissing or hushing sound (as 's' and 'sh'))

Derivation:

sibilant (a consonant characterized by a hissing sound (like s or sh))

sibilate (make a sharp hissing sound, as if to show disapproval)

sibilate (utter a sibilant)

sibilate (pronounce with an initial sibilant)

 Context examples 

There was a low, sibilant rise and fall—the breathing of the creature.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Again in the utter silence I heard that thin, sibilant note which spoke of intense suppressed excitement.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Sometimes this gurgle became sibilant, almost a whistle.

(White Fang, by Jack London)