Definition of VOWEL. Meaning of VOWEL. Synonyms of VOWEL

Here you will find one or more explanations in English for the word VOWEL. Also in the bottom left of the page several parts of wikipedia pages related to the word VOWEL and, of course, VOWEL synonyms and on the right images related to the word VOWEL.

Definition of VOWEL

Vowel
Vowel Vow"el, n. [F. voyelle, or an OF. form without y, L. vocalis (sc. littera), from vocalis sounding, from vox, vocis, a voice, sound. See Vocal.] (Phon.) A vocal, or sometimes a whispered, sound modified by resonance in the oral passage, the peculiar resonance in each case giving to each several vowel its distinctive character or quality as a sound of speech; -- distinguished from a consonant in that the latter, whether made with or without vocality, derives its character in every case from some kind of obstructive action by the mouth organs. Also, a letter or character which represents such a sound. See Guide to Pronunciation, [sect][sect] 5, 146-149. Note: In the English language, the written vowels are a, e, i, o, u, and sometimes w and y. The spoken vowels are much more numerous. Close vowel. See under Close, a. Vowel point. See under Point, n.
Vowel
Vowel Vow"el, a. Of or pertaining to a vowel; vocal.

Meaning of VOWEL from wikipedia

- transcription delimiters. A vowel is a speech sound pronounced without any stricture in the vocal tract, forming the nucleus of a syllable. Vowels are one of the two...
- The mid central vowel is a type of vowel sound, used in some spoken languages. A reduced mid central vowel is known as a schwa. The symbol in the International...
- § Brackets and transcription delimiters. The Great Vowel Shift was a series of pronunciation changes in the vowels of the English language that took place primarily...
- In phonology, vowel harmony is a phonological rule in which the vowels of a given domain – typically a phonological word – must share certain distinctive...
- be any vowel that is more open than a mid vowel. That is, open-mid vowels, near-open vowels, and open vowels can all be considered low vowels. The open...
- language, a high vowel can be any vowel that is more close than a mid vowel. That is, close-mid vowels, near-close vowels, and close vowels can all be considered...
- and transcription delimiters. A central vowel, formerly also known as a mixed vowel, is any in a class of vowel sound used in some spoken languages. The...
- Front vowels are sometimes also called bright vowels because they are perceived as sounding brighter than the back vowels. Near-front vowels are essentially...
- transcription delimiters. A back vowel is any in a class of vowel sound used in spoken languages. The defining characteristic of a back vowel is that the highest point...
- § Brackets and transcription delimiters. A vowel diagram or vowel chart is a schematic arrangement of the vowels. Depending on the particular language being...