Fricative

Origin

New Latin fricativus, from Classical Latin fricāre, present active infinitive of fricō ("I rub").

Full definition of fricative

Noun

1. (phonetics) Any of several sounds produced by air flowing through a constriction in the oral cavity and typically producing a sibilant, hissing, or buzzing quality; a fricative consonant. English /f/ and /s/ are fricatives.

Synonyms

• archaic spirant

Derived terms

• groove fricative
• lateral fricative
• slit fricative

Adjective

1. (phonetics) produced by air flowing through a restriction in the oral cavity.

Derived terms

• fricativise, fricativize
• fricativisation, fricativization