lisp

[ lisp ]
See synonyms for lisp on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. Phonetics.

    • the systematic articulation of s and z in a forward, dental position, like th-sounds, as a manifestation of a speech disorder or a stylistic affectation.

    • any unconventional articulation of the sibilants, as the pronunciation of s and z with the tongue between the teeth (lingual protrusion lisp ), close to or touching the upper front teeth (dental lisp ), or raised so that the breath is emitted laterally (lateral lisp ).

  2. the act, habit, or sound of lisping.

verb (used with or without object)
  1. to pronounce or speak with a lisp.

  2. to speak imperfectly, especially in a childish manner.

Origin of lisp

1
First recorded before 1100; Middle English wlispen, lipsen, Old English āwlyspian; akin to Dutch lisp(el)en, German lispeln, Norwegian leipsa

Other words from lisp

  • lisp·er, noun
  • lisp·ing·ly, adverb
  • un·lisp·ing, adjective

Other definitions for LISP (2 of 2)

LISP
[ lisp ]

nounComputers.
  1. a high-level programming language that processes data in the form of lists: widely used in artificial intelligence applications.

Origin of LISP

2
lis(t)p(rocessing)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use lisp in a sentence

  • I scorn to use good steel against ye, dunces, lispers, puppies!

    Captain Ravenshaw | Robert Neilson Stephens

British Dictionary definitions for lisp (1 of 2)

lisp

/ (lɪsp) /


noun
  1. the articulation of s and z like or nearly like the th sounds in English thin and then respectively

  2. the habit or speech defect of pronouncing s and z in this manner

  1. the sound of a lisp in pronunciation

verb
  1. to use a lisp in the pronunciation of (speech)

  2. to speak or pronounce imperfectly or haltingly

Origin of lisp

1
Old English āwlispian, from wlisp lisping (adj), of imitative origin; related to Old High German lispen

Derived forms of lisp

  • lisper, noun
  • lisping, adjective, noun
  • lispingly, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for LISP (2 of 2)

LISP

/ (lɪsp) /


noun
  1. a high-level computer-programming language suitable for work in artificial intelligence

Origin of LISP

2
C20: from lis (t) p (rocessing)

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