Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

approximant

/əˈpɹɑksəmənt/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 1.51 in modern English

Syllables
ap-prox-i-mant
IPA
/əˈpɹɑksəmənt/
24
Scrabble Score
11
Letters
4
Syllables
9
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

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

noun

An approximation to the solution of a function, series, etc.

Etymology

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

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: approximāns

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /əˈpɹɑksəmənt/
  • British English: /əˈpɹɒksɪmənt/

Inflected Forms

approximants (plural)

Phrases

Padé approximant

Frequently Paired Words

consonant fricative lateral nasal trill plosive approximand approximate

Questions

How do you pronounce approximant?
The recorded pronunciation is /əˈpɹɑksəmənt/.
What does approximant mean?
A consonant sound made by slightly narrowing the vocal tract, while still allowing a smooth flow of air. Liquids and glides are approximants.
Where does approximant come from?
It is traced to Latin.

How to pronounce approximant

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “approximant”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/əˈpɹɑksəmənt/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “approximant”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “approximant” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.