meaning of vowel
1. 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, // 5, 146-149.
2. Of or pertaining to a vowel; vocal.
3. a speech sound made with the vocal tract open
Related Words
vowel | vowel point | vowel rhyme | vowel sound | vowel system | voweled | vowelise | vowelish | vowelism | vowelize | vowellike | vowels are represented as follows: |
