What does plosive mean?
A plosive is a consonantal sound characterized by a complete closure of the vocal tract, followed by a sudden release, as in the sounds /p/, /t/, /k/, /b/, /d/, and /g/. These sounds are also known as stops or occlusives. Plosives are a fundamental part of many languages, including English, and are often contrasted with other types of consonants, such as fricatives and approximants. The term 'plosive' is commonly used in phonetics and linguistics to describe these sounds, which are produced by obstructing airflow with the tongue, teeth, or lips. Understanding plosives is essential for the study of language and speech.
Describing a consonantal sound characterized by a complete closure of the vocal tract, followed by a sudden release.
"The plosive consonants in 'cat' are /k/ and /t/."
A type of consonantal sound, such as /p/, /t/, /k/, /b/, /d/, or /g/.
"In phonetics, plosives are a fundamental class of sounds."
The plural form is used when referring to multiple types of plosive sounds or in a general sense.
"The language has a large number of plosives in its phonology."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of plosive
The term 'plosive' originates from the Latin 'plodere', meaning 'to strike', and the French 'explosif', describing a type of consonantal sound. The word has been used in English since the 19th century to describe these sounds in phonetics.
How plosive is actually used
In linguistics, the term 'plosive' is often used interchangeably with 'stop', though some sources make a distinction between the two.