Meaning & Definition of word "Vowel"
to
Vowel
/ˈvaʊəl/
noun:
- 1. A speech sound in many languages, including English, that is produced without any significant constriction or blockage of airflow in the vocal tract, and typically refers to the letters A, E, I, O, U, and sometimes Y.
- Example: In English, the letters A, E, I, O, U, and sometimes Y are vowels.
- 2. A letter of the alphabet that represents a vowel sound.
- Example: The word 'apple' contains two vowels: A and E.
- 3. A character in a writing system representing a vowel sound.
- Example: In phonetics, each vowel can be represented by various symbols in the International Phonetic Alphabet.
Etymology
From Latin 'vocalis', meaning 'vocal' or 'sounded'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
vowel sound:
A sound produced when the airflow is unobstructed.
vowel harmony:
A phonological rule where vowels within a word must share certain features.
vowel shift:
A systematic change in the pronunciation of vowel sounds over time.
Related Words
consonant:
A speech sound that is articulated with a complete or partial closure of the vocal tract.
diphthong:
A complex vowel sound that begins with one vowel sound and glides into another within the same syllable.
Slang Meanings of vowel
Meaning: A reference to simplistically putting things together, like vowels.
Example Sentence: Stop being so vowel-centric, man!
Meaning: Used in games and puzzles to indicate the importance of vowels.
Example Sentence: We need more vowels in this Scrabble game!