palatal

Noun · Adjective
Synonyms: palatinepalatalizedpalatalised

WordNet 3.0

Noun (1)

  1. a semivowel produced with the tongue near the palate (like the initial sound in the English word `yeast')

Adjective (2)

  1. relating to or lying near the palate“palatal index”“the palatine tonsils”Synonyms: palatine
  2. produced with the front of the tongue near or touching the hard palate (as `y') or with the blade of the tongue near the hard palate (as `ch' in `chin' or `j' in `gin')Synonyms: palatalizedpalatalised
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Palatal \Pal"a*tal\, a. [Cf. F. palatal.]

1.Of or pertaining to the palate; palatine; as, the palatal bones. [1913 Webster]

2.(Phonetics) Uttered by the aid of the palate; -- said of certain sounds, as the sound of k in kirk. [1913 Webster]

Palatal \Pal"a*tal\, n. (Phon.) A sound uttered, or a letter pronounced, by the aid of the palate, as the letters k and y. [1913 Webster]
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