vowel Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a speech sound made with the vocal tract open
    vowel sound.
  2. noun a letter of the alphabet standing for a spoken vowel

WordNet

Vow"el noun
Etymology
F. voyelle, or an OF. form without y, L. vocalis (sc. littera), from vocalis sounding, from vox, vocis, a voice, sound. See Vocal.
Definitions
  1. (Phon.) A vocal, or sometimes a whispered, sound modified by resonance in the oral passage, the peculiar resonance in each case giving to each several vowel its distinctive character or quality as a sound of speech; -- distinguished from a consonant in that the latter, whether made with or without vocality, derives its character in every case from some kind of obstructive action by the mouth organs. Also, a letter or character which represents such a sound. See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 5, 146-149. ✍ In the English language, the written vowels are a, e, i, o, u, and sometimes w and y. The spoken vowels are much more numerous.
Vow"el adjective
Definitions
  1. Of or pertaining to a vowel; vocal.

Webster 1913