vowel, vowel sound
(noun) a speech sound made with the vocal tract open
vowel
(noun) a letter of the alphabet standing for a spoken vowel
Source: WordNet® 3.1
vowel (plural vowels)
(phonetics) A sound produced by the vocal cords with relatively little restriction of the oral cavity, forming the prominent sound of a syllable.
(orthography) A letter representing the sound of vowel; in English, the vowels are a, e, i, o, u, and sometimes y.
• (sound): consonant
• (letter): consonant
vowel (third-person singular simple present vowels, present participle (US) voweling or vowelling, simple past and past participle (US) voweled or vowelled)
(linguistics) To add vowel points to a consonantal script (e.g. niqqud in Hebrew or harakat in Arabic)
• vowelize
• vocalize
• wolve
Source: Wiktionary
Vow"el, n. Etym: [F. voyelle, or an OF. form without y, L. vocalis (sc. littera), from vocalis sounding, from vox, vocis, a voice, sound. See Vocal.] (Phon.)
Definition: 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.
Note: In the English language, the written vowels are a, e, i, o, u, and sometimes w and y. The spoken vowels are much more numerous. Close vowel. See under Close, a.
– Vowel point. See under Point, n.
Vow"el, a.
Definition: Of or pertaining to a vowel; vocal.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
4 May 2025
(adjective) (of something seen or heard) clearly defined; “a sharp photographic image”; “the sharp crack of a twig”; “the crisp snap of dry leaves underfoot”
Contrary to popular belief, coffee beans are not technically beans. They are referred to as such because of their resemblance to legumes. A coffee bean is a seed of the Coffea plant and the source for coffee. It is the pit inside the red or purple fruit, often referred to as a cherry. Just like ordinary cherries, the coffee fruit is also a so-called stone fruit.
