fricative
[C] Countable
pl: fricatives
This term belongs to the specialized domain of linguistics and phonetics. It describes a specific mechanical action of the mouth and throat where the air is not completely blocked, but rather squeezed, resulting in audible friction. It carries a clinical, technical tone used by linguists to categorize sounds based on their articulation. While a plosive sound involves a sudden release of air, a fricative is characterized by a continuous stream. It evokes the auditory sensation of a steady hiss or buzz, making it distinct from the popping sounds of letters like p or b.
Used to count individual speech sounds within a language, such as identifying the three different fricatives in a specific word.