Fric"a*tive (?), a. [See Frication.] Phon.

Produced by the friction or rustling of the breath, intonated or unintonated, through a narrow opening between two of the mouth organs; uttered through a close approach, but not with a complete closure, of the organs of articulation, and hence capable of being continued or prolonged; -- said of certain consonantal sounds, as f, v, s, z, etc.

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n.

A fricative consonant letter or sound. See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 197-206, etc.

 

© Webster 1913.