Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Relating to or consisting of segments or sections: Describes something that is divided into distinct parts or sections.
   • Relating to the sequential, linear units of speech sounds: In linguistics, describes sounds (like consonants and vowels) that can be isolated in a sequence, as opposed to suprasegmental features like intonation or stress.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • The body of an earthworm is segmental, composed of many similar rings.
  • In phonetics, consonants and vowels are considered segmental features of speech.

Advanced Usage

• "Segmental analysis": In linguistics, the analysis of speech into a sequence of discrete sounds (phonemes).
  • The linguist conducted a segmental analysis of the dialect.
• "Segmental construction": In engineering or architecture, a structure built from separate, often repeating, sections.
  • The bridge was built using a segmental construction technique.

Variants and Related Words

• Segment (n): A part into which something is divided.
  • Each segment of the orange can be separated.
• Segmentation (n): The process of dividing something into segments.
  • The segmentation of the market allowed for targeted advertising.
• Suprasegmental (adj): In linguistics, relating to features like stress, tone, and intonation that extend over more than one segmental sound.
  • Intonation is a suprasegmental feature of language.

Synonyms

• Sectional: Relating to or divided into sections.
• Modular: Constructed from standardized units or sections.
• Phonemic (in linguistic contexts): Relating to phonemes, the smallest segmental units of sound.

Related Phrases

• Segmental phonology: The branch of phonology concerned with the study of speech sounds as discrete, sequential segments.
  • Her research focuses on segmental phonology.

Adjective

1. having the body divided into successive metameres or segments, as in earthworms or lobsters
2. divided or organized into speech segments or isolable speech sounds