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View synonyms for consonant

consonant

[ kon-suh-nuhnt ]

noun

  1. Phonetics.
    1. (in English articulation) a speech sound produced by occluding with or without releasing (p, b; t, d; k, g), diverting (m, n, ng), or obstructing (f, v; s, z, etc.) the flow of air from the lungs ( vowel ).
    2. (in a syllable) any sound other than the sound of greatest sonority in the syllable, as b, r, and g in brig ( sonant ). Compare vowel ( def 1b ).
    3. (in linguistic function) a concept empirically determined as a phonological element in structural contrast with vowel, as the b of be, the w of we, the y, s, and t of yeast, etc.
  2. a letter that usually represents a consonant sound.


adjective

  1. in agreement; agreeable; in accord; consistent (usually followed by to or with ):

    behavior consonant with his character.

    Synonyms: congruous, concordant

  2. corresponding in sound, as words.
  3. harmonious, as sounds.
  4. Music. constituting a consonance.

    Antonyms: dissonant

  5. Physics. noting or pertaining to sounds exhibiting consonance.

consonant

/ ˈkɒnsənənt /

noun

  1. a speech sound or letter of the alphabet other than a vowel; a stop, fricative, or continuant
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


adjective

  1. postpositive; foll by with or to consistent; in agreement
  2. harmonious in tone or sound
  3. music characterized by the presence of a consonance
  4. being or relating to a consonant
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈconsonantly, adverb
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Other Words From

  • conso·nant·like adjective
  • conso·nant·ly adverb
  • un·conso·nant adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of consonant1

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English consona(u)nt, from Anglo-French, from Latin consonant-, stem of consonāns “sounding together,” present participle of consonāre “to sound with or together”; equivalent to con- + sonant
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Word History and Origins

Origin of consonant1

C14: from Latin consonāns, from consonāre to sound at the same time, be in harmony, from sonāre to sound
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Example Sentences

However, Bottalico notes, that still wouldn’t change the fact that masks stifle consonants more than vowels.

That’s important, says Bottalico, because consonants typically have a higher frequency, or pitch, than vowel sounds.

Each word was one syllable and had starting and ending consonants that sandwiched a vowel sound.

In the flow of a news conference, it’s hard to expect him to avoid the occasional misplaced consonant.

It starts with two consonants that you don’t see together too often.

Appeals to “collective will” and the judgment of “history” are not consonant with liberal thought.

Romney's teenage bullying hurts him because it is consonant with his adult record.

It is combined with these consonant elements in order to invite it forward and bring it to a point (figuratively speaking).

The most recklessly chivalrous terms are indeed consonant with Sir Edward's character.

The story seems little consonant with Douglas's warlike intelligence.

Ten Brink reads ay for ever, on the ground that ever and never, when followed by a consonant, are dissyllabic in Chaucer.

No Russian, whose dissonant, consonant name Almost rattles to fragments the trumpet of fame?Postscript.

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