[spahy-ruh
nt] 
Phonetics| 1. | fricative (def. 2). |
| 2. | Also, spi⋅ran⋅tal [spahy-ran-tl] . fricative. |
[frik-uh-tiv] Phonetics| 1. | (of a speech sound) characterized by audible friction produced by forcing the breath through a constricted or partially obstructed passage in the vocal tract; spirantal; spirant. |
| 2. | Also called spirant. a fricative consonant, as (th), (v), or (h). |
| fric·a·tive (frĭk'ə-tĭv) n. A consonant, such as f or s in English, produced by the forcing of breath through a constricted passage. Also called spirant. adj. Of, relating to, or being a fricative consonant. [New Latin fricātīvus, from Latin fricātus, past participle of fricāre, to rub.] |
| spi·rant (spī'rənt) n. See fricative. adj. Fricative. [Latin spīrāns, spīrant-, present participle of spīrāre, to breathe.] |
spirant
in phonetics, a consonant sound, such as English f or v, produced by bringing the mouth into position to block the passage of the airstream, but not making complete closure, so that air moving through the mouth generates audible friction.
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