alveolar

[ al-vee-uh-ler ]

adjective

1. Anatomy, Zoology. of or relating to an alveolus or to alveoli.
2. Phonetics. articulated with the tongue touching or close to the alveolar ridge, as English t, d, n; gingival.

noun

1. Phonetics. an alveolar sound.

alveolar

/ ˌælvɪˈəʊlə; ælˈvɪələ /

adjective

1. anatomy of, relating to, or resembling an alveolus
2. denoting the part of the jawbone containing the roots of the teeth
3. (of a consonant) articulated with the tongue in contact with the projecting part of the jawbone immediately behind the upper teeth

noun

1. an alveolar consonant, such as the speech sounds written t, d, and s in English

Other Words From

• al·veo·lar·ly adverb
• inter·al·veo·lar adjective
• postal·veo·lar adjective
• pseudo·al·veo·lar adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of alveolar¹

First recorded in 1790–1800; alveol- + -ar ¹

Example Sentences

Frequently they are found in alveolar arrangement, retaining the original outline of the alveoli of the lung (Fig. 4, b).

From Project Gutenberg

They are again subdivided into simple or compound alveolar glands, as in the case of the tubular glands (fig. 10).

From Project Gutenberg

If the occlusion be not normal, the upper jaw and alveolar process will develop laterally as well as anteriorly.

From Project Gutenberg

In no symptoms is degeneracy so evident as in the stigmata resultant on hypertrophy of the alveolar process.

From Project Gutenberg

The general cytoplasm shows no differentiation into ectoplasm and endoplasm; it is uniformly alveolar in character.

From Project Gutenberg