SIBILANT

 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)

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)

• SIBILANT (adjective)

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'))