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sibilant

[ sib-uh-luh nt ]
/ ˈsɪb ə lənt /
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adjective

hissing.
Phonetics. characterized by a hissing sound; noting sounds like those spelled with s in this [th is] /ðɪs/, rose [rohz] /roʊz/, pressure [presh-er] /ˈprɛʃ ər/, pleasure [plezh-er] /ˈplɛʒ ər/, and certain similar uses of ch, sh, z, zh, etc.

noun

Phonetics. a sibilant consonant.

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Nearby words

  1. siberian larkspur,
  2. siberian ruby,
  3. siberian squill,
  4. siberian wallflower,
  5. siberite,
  6. sibilant rale,
  7. sibilantly,
  8. sibilate,
  9. sibir,
  10. sibirʾ

Origin of sibilant

1660–70; < Latin sībilant- (stem of sībilāns), present participle of sībilāre to hiss), equivalent to sībil(us) a hissing, whistling (of imitative orig.) + -ant- -ant
Related forms
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for sibilance

British Dictionary definitions for sibilance

sibilant

/ (ˈsɪbɪlənt) /

adjective

phonetics relating to or denoting the consonants (s, z, / ʃ /, / ʒ /), all pronounced with a characteristic hissing sound
having a hissing soundthe sibilant sound of wind among the leaves

noun

a sibilant consonant
Derived Formssibilance or sibilancy, nounsibilantly, adverb

Word Origin for sibilant

C17: from Latin sībilāre to hiss, of imitative origin; compare Greek sizein to hiss
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

Medicine definitions for sibilance

sibilant

[ sĭb′ə-lənt ]

adj.

Of, characterized by, or producing a hissing sound like that of (s) or (sh).
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.