approximant
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also: Approximant
Etymology
From Latin approximāns. In the phonetics sense first used by Peter Ladefoged,[1] the mathematical concept is attributed to Paul Halmos.[2]
Pronunciation
Noun
approximant (plural approximants)
- (phonetics) A consonant sound made by slightly narrowing the vocal tract, while still allowing a smooth flow of air. Liquids and glides are approximants.
- (mathematics) An approximation to the solution of a function, series, etc.
- Coordinate terms: approximand, approximate, approximation
Derived terms
Translations
consonant made by slightly narrowing the vocal tract
|
mathematics: approximation — see approximation
See also
References
- Peter Ladefoged (1964) A Phonetic Study of West African Languages, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, page 25: “The term approximant is used here to describe a sound which belongs to the phonetic class vocoid or central resonant oral (Pike, 1943), and simultaneously to the phonological class consonant in that it occurs in the same phonotactic patterns as stops, fricatives and nasals.”
Further reading
approximant consonant on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
Wikiwand in your browser!
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.
Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.
