Consonant Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary (original) (raw)

Britannica Dictionary definition of CONSONANT

[count]

1

:

a speech sound (such as /p/, /d/, or /s/) that is made by partly or completely stopping the flow of air breathed out from the mouth

2

:

a letter that represents a consonant

especially

:

any letter of the English alphabet except a, e, i, o, u, and sometimes y

— compare vowel

Britannica Dictionary definition of CONSONANT

[more consonant; most consonant]

1

formal

:

in agreement with something

— often + with

• The decision was consonant with [=_consistent with_] the company's usual practice.

2

music

:

in harmony

• consonant chords

— opposite dissonant

— consonance

/ˈkɑːnsənəs/

noun,

plural

consonances

[noncount]

• musical consonance
• His beliefs are in consonance with [=_agree with_] the political party's views.

[count]

• the pleasing consonances of the symphony