nonsense syllable

noun Psychology.

any of numerous letter combinations without meaning, used in learning experiments.

Origin of nonsense syllable

First recorded in 1885–90

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British Dictionary definitions for nonsense syllable

nonsense syllable

noun

psychol a syllable, like bik, having no meaning. Lists of such syllables have been used to investigate memory and learning

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