labial

[ ley-bee-uhl ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or resembling a labium.
2. of or relating to the lips.
3. Phonetics. involving lip articulation, as p, v, m, w, or a rounded vowel.
4. Music. having the tones produced by the impact of a stream of air on a sharp liplike edge, as in a flute or the flue pipes of an organ.

noun

, Phonetics.

1. any labial consonant, especially a bilabial.
2. any labial sound.

labial

/ ˈleɪbɪəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or near lips or labia
2. music producing sounds by the action of an air stream over a narrow liplike fissure, as in a flue pipe of an organ
3. phonetics relating to a speech sound whose articulation involves movement or use of the lips

   a labial click

noun

1. Also calledlabial pipe music an organ pipe with a liplike fissure
2. phonetics a speech sound such as English p or m, whose articulation involves movement or use of the lips

Derived Forms

• ˌlabiˈality, noun
• ˈlabially, adverb

Other Words From

• labi·ali·ty noun
• labi·al·ly adverb
• inter·labi·al adjective
• post·labi·al adjective
• post·labi·al·ly adverb
• pre·labi·al adjective
• pseudo·labi·al adjective
• sub·labi·al adjective
• sub·labi·al·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of labial¹

From the Medieval Latin word labiālis, dating back to 1585–95. See labium, -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of labial¹

C16: from Medieval Latin labiālis, from Latin labium lip

Example Sentences

Following delivery of her second child, Brock spent an unusually long time suturing what he said was a small labial tear, she told police and the medical board.

From Los Angeles Times

Estas herramientas suelen traducir un guion en una voz generada por inteligencia artificial, que luego puede incorporarse a secuencias de video ya existentes mediante programas de sincronización labial.

From New York Times

Los mariachis permanecían en silencio a un lado con sus trajes de charro negros con plata, las mujeres con lápiz labial rojo y destellantes aretes colgantes.

From New York Times

Los mariachis permanecían en silencio a un lado con sus trajes de charro negros con plata, las mujeres con lápiz labial rojo y destellantes aretes colgantes.

From New York Times

A gigantic, labial paper-flower chandelier hangs from the ceiling of the set, by Maruti Evans; a jaunty but ominous “Til Death” sign radiates its neon message amid Oona Curley’s string lights and lanterns.

From New York Times