Noun
(phonetics) A consonant sound made by slightly narrowing the vocal tract, while still allowing a smooth flow of air. Liquids and glides are approximants.
Coordinate terms: fricative, lateral, nasal, trill, plosive
Hyponyms: liquid, glide, semivowel
(mathematics) An approximation to the solution of a function, series, etc.
Coordinate terms: approximand, approximate, approximation
A unique "bunched tongue" variant of the approximant r sound is also associated with the United States, and seems particularly noticeable in the Midwest and South. Source: Internet
Difference from a vowel and semivowel While there are a number of similarities, diphthongs are not the same phonologically as a combination of a vowel and an approximant or glide. Source: Internet
For example, the Spanish word ayuda ('help') features a palatal approximant that is pronounced as a fricative in emphatic speech. Source: Internet
Instead, about 90% of Chinese characters are compounds of a determinative (called a ' radical '), which may not exist independently, and a phonetic complement indicates the approximant pronunciation of the morpheme. Source: Internet
In clusters, the preaspiration merges with a preceding nasal or apical approximant, rendering them voiceless. Source: Internet
Dublin's retroflex approximant has no precedent outside of northern Ireland and is a genuine innovation of the past two decades. Source: Internet