fricative
noun
fric·a·tive
ˈfri-kə-tiv 
: a consonant characterized by frictional passage of the expired breath through a narrowing at some point in the vocal tract
fricative
adjective
Examples of fricative in a Sentence
The sounds v θ ð s z ʃ ʒ h/ are English fricatives.
Recent Examples on the Web
The plosives and fricatives of a complex word, the specific place your lips meet or don't to shape and push out a puff of air that carries a sound.
—
Julie Muncy, Wired, 5 Feb. 2020
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Julie Muncy, Wired, 5 Feb. 2020
Cite this Entry
“Fricative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fricative. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
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