fricative

[ frik-uh-tiv ]

adjective

1. (of a speech sound) characterized by audible friction produced by forcing the breath through a constricted or partially obstructed passage in the vocal tract; spirantal; spirant.

noun

1. Also called spirant. a fricative consonant, as (th), (v), or (h).

fricative

/ ˈfrɪkətɪv /

noun

1. a continuant consonant produced by partial occlusion of the airstream, such as (f) or (z)

adjective

1. relating to or denoting a fricative

Other Words From

• non·frica·tive adjective noun
• un·frica·tive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fricative¹

First recorded in 1855–60; fricat(ion) + -ive

Word History and Origins

Origin of fricative¹

C19: from New Latin fricātivus , from Latin fricāre to rub

Example Sentences

These included voiceless stops, such as “t” and “k,” and voiceless fricatives including “f,” “s” and “th.”

From New York Times

I begin by pronouncing words with vowels of the long and short variety, then diphthongs, before moving on to consonants, including plosives and fricatives.

From The Guardian

Laleh grew up with the ear for it—the uvular fricatives and alveolar trills that I could never get quite right.

From Literature

Dairy products and other soft foods, such as gruel, porridge, soup and stews, helped shape our faces, the researchers claim, and allowed us to form the sounds “f” and “v”, known as labiodental fricatives.

From The Guardian

The reMarkable screen isn’t made out of glass, but rather a more durable and fricative material that really does feel like writing on paper with a pen or pencil.

From The Verge