Consonant

Pronunciation

• RP enPR: kŏn'sÉ™nÉ™nt, IPA: /ˈkÉ’n.sÉ™n.É™nt/
• US

Origin

From Old French, from Latin cōnsonāns ("sounding with"), from prefix con- ("with"), + present participle sonāns ("sounding"), from sonāre ("to sound")

Full definition of consonant

Noun

1. (phonetics) A sound that results from the passage of air through restrictions of the oral cavity; any sound that is not the dominant sound of a syllable, the dominant sound generally being a vowel.
2. A letter representing the sound of a consonant.
   The 19 unquestionable consonants in the English alphabet are B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, X, Z.
• 1893, Walter Besant, The Ivory Gate Chapter Prologue, Thus, when he drew up instructions in lawyer language, he expressed the important words by an initial, a medial, or a final consonant, and made scratches for all the words between; his clerks, however, understood him very well.

Adjective

1. Characterized by harmony or agreement.
• Bishop BeveridgeEach one pretends that his opinion ... is consonant to the words there used.
• Dr. H. MoreThat where much is given shall be much required is a thing consonant with natural equity.
2. Having the same sound.
• Howellconsonant words and syllables
3. (music) Harmonizing together; accordant.consonant tones; consonant chords
4. Of or relating to consonants; made up of, or containing many, consonants.
• T. MooreNo Russian whose dissonant consonant name
  Almost shatters to fragments the trumpet of fame.

Antonyms

• disconsonant
• discordant

Related terms

• consonance