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lisp

[ lisp ]
/ lɪsp /
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noun
Phonetics.
  1. 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.
  2. 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 ).
the act, habit, or sound of lisping.
verb (used with or without object)
to pronounce or speak with a lisp.
to speak imperfectly, especially in a childish manner.
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Origin of lisp

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, nounlisp·ing·ly, adverbun·lisp·ing, adjective

Other definitions for lisp (2 of 2)

LISP
[ lisp ]
/ lɪsp /

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

Origin of LISP

lis(t)p(rocessing)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use lisp in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for lisp (1 of 2)

lisp
/ (lɪsp) /

noun
the articulation of s and z like or nearly like the th sounds in English thin and then respectively
the habit or speech defect of pronouncing s and z in this manner
the sound of a lisp in pronunciation
verb
to use a lisp in the pronunciation of (speech)
to speak or pronounce imperfectly or haltingly

Derived forms of lisp

lisper, nounlisping, adjective, nounlispingly, adverb

Word Origin for lisp

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

British Dictionary definitions for lisp (2 of 2)

LISP
/ (lɪsp) /

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

Word Origin for LISP

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
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