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Altaic

[ al-tey-ik ]
/ ælˈteɪ ɪk /
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noun
the Turkic, Mongolian, and Tungusic language families collectively, spoken over a broad expanse of Eurasia, from southeastern Europe to the Pacific: variously considered to be a single, genetically related family, with Japanese and Korean sometimes also included, or a group of languages with shared typologies and histories, but not genetically akin.
adjective
of or belonging to Altaic.
of or relating to the Altai Mountains.
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Also Al·ta·ian [al-tey-uhn, -tahy-]. /ælˈteɪ ən, -taɪ-/.

Origin of Altaic

First recorded in 1825–35; Alta(i) + -ic
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use Altaic in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for Altaic

Altaic
/ (ælˈteɪɪk) /

noun
a postulated family of languages of Asia and SE Europe, consisting of the Turkic, Mongolic, and Tungusic branches, and perhaps also Japanese, Korean, and AinuSee also Ural-Altaic
adjective
denoting, belonging to, or relating to this linguistic family or its speakers
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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