spirant Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a continuant consonant produced by breath moving against a narrowing of the vocal tract
    fricative consonant; fricative.
  2. adjective satellite of speech sounds produced by forcing air through a constricted passage (as `f', `s', `z', or `th' in both `thin' and `then')
    fricative; sibilant; strident; continuant.

WordNet

Spi"rant noun
Etymology
L. spirans, -antis, p. pr. of spirare to breathe. See Spirit.
Definitions
  1. (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.

Webster 1913