DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan

 spi·rant /ˈspaɪrənt/
 摩擦音

 Spi·rant n.  Phon. A term used differently by different authorities; -- by some as equivalent to fricative, -- that is, as including all the continuous consonants, except the nasals m, n, ng; with the further exception, by others, of the liquids r, l, and the semivowels w, y; by others limited to f, v, th surd and sonant, and the sound of German ch, -- thus excluding the sibilants, as well as the nasals, liquids, and semivowels. See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 197-208.
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 spirant
      adj : of speech sounds produced by forcing air through a
            constricted passage (as `f', `s', `z', or `th' in both
            `thin' and `then') [syn: fricative, sibilant]
      n : a continuant consonant produced by breath moving against a
          narrowing of the vocal tract [syn: fricative consonant,
           fricative]