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approximants

/əˈprɒksɪmənts/ /əˈprɑːksɪmənts/

Meanings
noun
A consonant sound made by slightly narrowing the vocal tract, while still allowing a smooth flow of air. Liquids and glides are approximants.

Examples :

"In phonetics class, we learned that the sounds /r/, /l/, /w/, and /j/ are classified as approximants because they involve a smooth, partially open vocal tract. "
language phonetics linguistics

Related Words

Illustration consonant

consonant noun

/ˈkɒn.sə.nənt/ /ˈkɑn.sə.nənt/

A sound that results from the passage of air through restrictions of the oral cavity; any sound that is not the dominant sound of a syllable, the dominant sound generally being a vowel.

"The "k" sound in "kite" is a consonant. "

Illustration iterations

iterations noun

/ɪtəˈreɪʃənz/

Recital or performance a second time; repetition.

"The artist revised her painting many times; after several iterations, she was finally happy with the result. "

Illustration partially

partially adverb

/ˈpɑːʃəli/ /ˈpɑɹʃəli/

To a partial degree or extent, incompletely.

"The student was partially prepared for the exam, but still felt nervous. "

Illustration narrowing

narrowing verb

/ˈnæroʊɪŋ/ /ˈnærəʊɪŋ/

To reduce in width or extent; to contract.

"We need to narrow the search."

Illustration classified

classified adjective

/ˈklæsɪfaɪd/ /ˈklæsəˌfaɪd/

Sorted into classes or categories

"The library books are classified by subject, so finding a book on history is easy. "

Illustration slightly

slightly adverb

/ˈslaɪtli/

Slenderly; delicately.

"He was slightly built, but tall."

Illustration phonetics

phonetics noun

/fəˈnɛtɪks/

The study of the physical sounds of human speech, concerned with the physical properties of speech sounds (phones), and the processes of their physiological production, auditory reception, and neurophysiological perception, and their representation by written symbols.

"My daughter's phonetics class is focusing on how different sounds are produced in various languages. "

Illustration approximation

approximation noun

/əˌpɹɒksɪˈmeɪʃn/ /əˌpɹɑksɪˈmeɪʃn/

The act, process or result of approximating.

"The carpenter's initial measurement was just an approximation; he needed to measure more precisely to cut the wood correctly. "

Illustration allowing

allowing verb

/əˈlaʊɪŋ/

To grant, give, admit, accord, afford, or yield; to let one have.

"to allow a servant his liberty;  to allow a free passage;  to allow one day for rest"

Illustration solution

solution noun

/səˈl(j)uːʃən/

A homogeneous mixture, which may be liquid, gas or solid, formed by dissolving one or more substances.

"The lemonade was a clear solution of lemon juice and water. "

Illustration successive

successive adjective

/səkˈsɛsɪv/

Coming one after the other in a series.

"They had won the title for five successive years."

Illustration complicated

complicated verb

/ˈkɒmplɪkeɪtɪd/ /ˈkɑmplɪkeɪtɪd/

To make complex; to modify so as to make something intricate or difficult.

"The teacher complicated the math problem by adding several extra steps. "