Definition

1. Verb:
   • To make a sharp hissing sound: To produce a sound like "s," "sh," "z," or "zh," often resembling a prolonged "ssss" or a sharp exhalation.
   • To express or utter with a hiss: To speak words or sounds with a strong, hissing quality, often to convey disapproval, anger, or emphasis.
   • (Phonetics) To pronounce with a sibilant sound: To articulate a speech sound characterized by a hissing noise, such as /s/, /z/, /ʃ/, or /ʒ/.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • The angry cat began to sibilate at the intruding dog. (The cat made a sharp, hissing sound to warn the dog.)
  • The villain would often sibilate his threats, making them sound more sinister. (He uttered his threats with a hissing voice.)
  • In some accents, speakers sibilate the 's' in "measure" more strongly. (They pronounce the 's' with a prominent hissing quality.)

Advanced Usage

• Descriptive Use: Often used in literary or descriptive contexts to characterize speech or sounds that are menacing, secretive, or filled with emotion.
  • The conspirators would sibilate their plans in the dark corners of the tavern.
• Linguistic Analysis: Used in phonetics to describe the articulation of sibilant consonants, where airflow is directed against the sharp edge of the teeth.
  • The study focused on how children learn to sibilate the phonemes /s/ and /ʃ/.

Variants and Related Words

• Sibilant (adj/noun): (Adjective) Having a hissing sound. (Noun) A speech sound characterized by a hissing noise (e.g., /s/, /z/).
  • The 's' in "snake" is a sibilant consonant.
• Sibilation (noun): The act or result of hissing; a hissing sound.
  • The sibilation of the steam valve was deafening.

Synonyms

• Hiss: To make a sharp, prolonged sound like that of the letter 's'.
• Whistle (in a specific context): To emit a high, sharp sound, sometimes similar to a hiss.

Related Phrases

• To speak in sibilants: To talk with a pronounced hissing quality in one's speech.
  • The old wizard seemed to speak only in sibilants.
• A sibilant whisper: A whisper that has a distinct hissing sound.
  • She leaned in with a sibilant whisper to share the secret.

Verb

1. make a sharp hissing sound, as if to show disapproval
2. express or utter with a hiss
3. utter a sibilant
4. pronounce with an initial sibilant