Fricative

Part of speech: noun, adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈfɹɪkətɪv/

Definitions

1. A phonetic sound created by forcing air through a constricted passage in the vocal tract, leading to friction and audible turbulence in speech
2. A type of consonant produced when airflow is obstructed in a particular way, creating a turbulent sound due to the narrow space in the vocal tract
3. A category of consonants characterized by the production of sound through constricted airflow, resulting in a turbulent quality that is perceptible in spoken language

Etymology: The "fricative" sound is named for rubbing. Its root is Latin "fricare," meaning "to rub," which also gave English "friction." The word reached English through New Latin "fricativus," a scholarly coinage from the early modern period, and it describes consonants like "f," "v," and "s," which are made by forcing breath through a narrow gap in the mouth so the air rubs against the passage. The Latin verb itself has an ancient ancestry, traceable back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning something like "to rub" or "to crumble," which passed into early Italic speech before becoming the standard Latin verb. English has kept the rubbing sense only in technical and everyday talk about friction, while "fricative" has narrowed to a single job in phonetics.

Synonyms: hissing, sibilant, spirant, fret, whisper