consonant

[kon-suh-nuhnt]

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noun

Phonetics.

(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 (opposed to vowel).
(in a syllable) any sound other than the sound of greatest sonority in the syllable, as b, r, and g in brig (opposed to sonant).Compare vowel(def 1b).
(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.

a letter that usually represents a consonant sound.

adjective

in agreement; agreeable; in accord; consistent (usually followed by to or with): behavior consonant with his character.

corresponding in sound, as words.

harmonious, as sounds.

Music. constituting a consonance.

Physics. noting or pertaining to sounds exhibiting consonance.

consonantal.

Origin of consonant

1350–1400; Middle English consona(u)nt (< Anglo-French) < Latin consonant- (stem of consonāns, present participle of consonāre to sound with or together). See con-, sonant

Related formscon·so·nant·like, adjectivecon·so·nant·ly, adverbun·con·so·nant, adjective

Synonyms for consonant

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3. concordant, congruous, conformant.

Antonyms for consonant

6. dissonant.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for consonant

agnate, correspondent, like, uniform, parallel, blending, accordant, akin, alike, analogous, coincident, comparable, compatible, conformable, congenial, congruous, corresponding, harmonious, similar, suitable

Examples from the Web for consonant

Contemporary Examples of consonant

Appeals to “collective will” and the judgment of “history” are not consonant with liberal thought.
Anti-Zionism Is Still Kosher
Jerry Haber
October 24, 2012
Romney's teenage bullying hurts him because it is consonant with his adult record.
Paul Begala on Romney: Once a Bully, Always a Bully
Paul Begala
May 11, 2012

Historical Examples of consonant

It was a lovely day, and every feeling of my heart was consonant to the scene.
Graham's Magazine Vol XXXII No. 1 January 1848
Various
(b) The part in the next line should, if possible, begin with a consonant.
"Stops"
Paul Allardyce
The consonant is the distinguishing element of human speech.
The Child-Voice in Singing
Francis E. Howard
Between the points of repose the combined sounds may or may not be consonant.
A Popular History of the Art of Music
W. S. B. Mathews
They were consonant with early Roman mores which were warlike.
Folkways
William Graham Sumner

British Dictionary definitions for consonant

consonant

noun

a speech sound or letter of the alphabet other than a vowel; a stop, fricative, or continuant

adjective

(postpositive; foll by with or to) consistent; in agreement

harmonious in tone or sound

music characterized by the presence of a consonance

being or relating to a consonant

Derived Formsconsonantly, adverb

Word Origin for consonant

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

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

Word Origin and History for consonant

early 14c., "sound other than a vowel," from Latin consonantem (nominative consonans), present participle of consonare "to sound together, sound aloud," from com- "with" (see com-) + sonare "to sound" (see sonata). Consonants were thought of as sounds that are only produced together with vowels.

adj.

early 15c., from Old French consonant (13c.), from Latin consonantem (nominative consonans), present participle of consonare (see consonant (n.)).