semivowel

2 definitions found

semivowel - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Semivowel \Sem"i*vow`el\, n. (Phon.)
     (a) A sound intermediate between a vowel and a consonant, or
         partaking of the nature of both, as in the English w and
         y.
     (b) The sign or letter representing such a sound.
         [1913 Webster]

semivowel - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  semivowel
      n 1: a vowellike sound that serves as a consonant [syn:
           semivowel, glide]