A speech sound that constricts the vocal tract enough to cause airstream friction or which closes if off entirely. The obstruents of a language consist of the stops, affricates, and fricatives.

Ob"stru*ent (?), a. [L. obstruens, p.pr. of obstruere. See Obstruct.]

Causing obstruction; blocking up; hindering; as, an obstruent medicine.

Johnson.

 

© Webster 1913.


Ob"stru*ent, n.

Anything that obstructs or closes a passage; esp., that which obstructs natural passages in the body; as, a medicine which acts as an obstruent.

 

© Webster 1913.

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