Syllable

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /ˈsɪlÉ™bÉ«/

Origin

Middle English and Middle French sillabe, from Latin syllaba, from Ancient Greek συλλαβή (sullabē), from συλλαμβάνω (sullambanō, "I gather together"), from συν- (sun-, "together") + λαμβάνω (lambanō, "I take").

Full definition of syllable

Noun

1. (linguistics) A unit of human speech that is interpreted by the listener as a single sound, although syllables usually consist of one or more vowel sounds, either alone or combined with the sound of one or more consonants; a word consists of one or more syllables.
2. The written representation of a given pronounced syllable.
3. A small part of a sentence or discourse; anything concise or short; a particle.
• HookerBefore any syllable of the law of God was written.
• ShakespeareWho dare speak
  One syllable against him?

Derived terms

Verb

1. (transitive, poetic) To utter in syllables.Aery tongues that syllable men's names — Milton.