approximant

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US/əˈpɹɑksəmənt/UK/əˈpɹɒksɪmənt/

noun

A consonant sound made by slightly narrowing the vocal tract, while still allowing a smooth flow of air. Liquids and glides are approximants.

OriginLatin approximāns →
UncommonScrabble 24
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Meanings

nounapproximant (plural approximants)

plural approximants

  1. human sciencesA consonant sound made by slightly narrowing the vocal tract, while still allowing a smooth flow of air. Liquids and glides are approximants.
  2. mathematicsAn approximation to the solution of a function, series, etc.

Origin

  1. Latinapproximāns
  2. Englishapproximant

From Latin approximāns. In the phonetics sense first used by Peter Ladefoged, the mathematical concept is attributed to Paul Halmos.

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 近音
  • 近音 (jìnyīn)consonant made by slightly narrowing the vocal tract
Finnish approksimantti
  • approksimantticonsonant made by slightly narrowing the vocal tract
French spirante, approximante
  • spiranteconsonant made by slightly narrowing the vocal tract
  • approximanteconsonant made by slightly narrowing the vocal tract
German Approximant, Näherungslaut
  • Approximantconsonant made by slightly narrowing the vocal tract
  • Näherungslautconsonant made by slightly narrowing the vocal tract
Hungarian közelítőhang, approximáns
  • közelítőhangconsonant made by slightly narrowing the vocal tract
  • approximánsconsonant made by slightly narrowing the vocal tract
Icelandic nálgunarhljóð, nándarhljóð
  • nálgunarhljóðconsonant made by slightly narrowing the vocal tract
  • nándarhljóðconsonant made by slightly narrowing the vocal tract
Japanese 接近音
  • 接近音 (sekkinon)consonant made by slightly narrowing the vocal tract
Persian ناسوده
  • ناسوده (nâsude)consonant made by slightly narrowing the vocal tract
Polish aproksymant
  • aproksymantconsonant made by slightly narrowing the vocal tract
Portuguese aproximante
  • aproximanteconsonant made by slightly narrowing the vocal tract
Swedish approximant
  • approximantconsonant made by slightly narrowing the vocal tract
Tagalog malapatinig
  • malapatinigconsonant made by slightly narrowing the vocal tract
Welsh dynesolyn
  • dynesolynconsonant made by slightly narrowing the vocal tract
Cite this entry
APA

approximant. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/approximant

MLA

“approximant.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/approximant. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “approximant,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/approximant.

Source: approximant on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.