fricative

noun

fric·​a·​tive ˈfri-kə-tiv How to pronounce fricative (audio)
: a consonant characterized by frictional passage of the expired breath through a narrowing at some point in the vocal tract
fricative adjective

Examples of fricative in a Sentence

The sounds v θ ð s z ʃ ʒ h/ are English fricatives.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The plosives and fricatives of a complex word, the specific place your lips meet or don't to shape and push out a puff of air that carries a sound. Julie Muncy, Wired, 5 Feb. 2020

Word History

Etymology

Latin fricatus, past participle of fricare

First Known Use

1863, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fricative was in 1863

Dictionary Entries Near fricative

Cite this Entry

“Fricative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fricative. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

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