velar

[ vee-ler ]

adjective
  1. of or relating to a velum, especially the soft palate.

  2. Phonetics. articulated with the back of the tongue held close to or touching the soft palate.

noun
  1. Phonetics. a velar sound.

Origin of velar

1
From the Latin word vēlāris, dating back to 1720–30. See velum, -ar1

Other words from velar

  • post·ve·lar, adjective
  • pseu·do·ve·lar, adjective

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British Dictionary definitions for velar

velar

/ (ˈviːlə) /


adjective
  1. of, relating to, or attached to a velum: velar tentacles

  2. phonetics articulated with the soft palate and the back of the tongue, as in the sounds (k), (ɡ), or (ŋ)

Origin of velar

1
C18: from Latin vēlāris, from vēlum veil

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