dissimilation

[dih-sim-uh-ley-shuhn]

dis·sim·i·la·tion

[dih-sim-uh-ley-shuhn]
noun
1.
the act of making or becoming unlike.
2.
Phonetics. the process by which a speech sound becomes different from or less like a neighboring sound, as pilgrim [pil-grim] from Latin peregrīnus [per-e-gree-noos] , and purple [pur-puhl] from Old English purpure [poor-poo-re] , or disappears entirely because of a like sound in another syllable, as in the pronunciation [guhv-uh-ner] for governor. Compare assimilation (def. 5).
3.
Biology. catabolism.

Origin:
1820–30; dis-1 + (as)similation
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Dissimilation is always a great word to know.
So is vowel. Does it mean:
a speech sound of vowel quality used as a consonant; (w) in wet or (y) in yet
a speech sound produced without occluding, diverting, or obstructing the flow of air from the lungs
Collins
World English Dictionary
dissimilation (ˌdɪsɪmɪˈleɪʃən)
 
n
1.  the act or an instance of making dissimilar
2.  phonetics the alteration or omission of a consonant as a result of being dissimilated
3.  biology a less common word for catabolism

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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