phonetic Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective of or relating to speech sounds
    phonic.
    • phonetic transcription
  2. adjective of or relating to the scientific study of speech sounds
    • phonetic analysis

WordNet

Pho*net"ic adjective
Etymology
Gr. , fr. a sound, tone; akin to Gr. to speak: cf. F. phonétique. See Ban a proclamation.
Definitions
  1. Of or pertaining to the voice, or its use.
  2. Representing sounds; as, phonetic characters; -- opposed to ideographic; as, a phonetic notation.

Webster 1913