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sibilant
[ sib-uh-luhnt ]
/ ˈsɪb ə lənt /
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adjective
Phonetics. characterized by a hissing sound; noting sounds like those spelled with s in this [this], /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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Origin of sibilant
First recorded before 1660–70; from Latin sībilant- (stem of sībilāns ), present participle of sībilāre “to hiss”), equivalent to sībil(us) “a hissing, whistling” (imitative of the sound) + -ant- adjective suffix; see -ant
OTHER WORDS FROM sibilant
Words nearby sibilant
Siberian ruby, Siberian squill, Siberian wallflower, siberite, sibilance, sibilant, sibilant rale, sibilate, Sibirʾ, Sibiu, sibling
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use sibilant in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for sibilant
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 forms of sibilant
sibilance or sibilancy, nounsibilantly, adverbWord 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
Medical definitions for sibilant
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.