vowel

Noun
Synonyms: vowel sound

WordNet 3.0

Noun (2)

  1. a speech sound made with the vocal tract openSynonyms: vowel sound
  2. a letter of the alphabet standing for a spoken vowel
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

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. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

Close vowel. See under Close, a.

Vowel point. See under Point, n. [1913 Webster]

Vowel \Vow"el\, a. Of or pertaining to a vowel; vocal. [1913 Webster]
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