glidant

This term is a specialized linguistic descriptor used primarily in phonetics and phonology. It describes sounds that occupy a middle ground between vowels and consonants, characterized by a rapid transition from one vocalic position to another. In most general linguistic contexts, the term "glide" is more frequently employed than "glidant," though both refer to the same phonetic phenomenon.

Because it describes a specific category of speech sounds, it is used almost exclusively in academic or technical discourse regarding articulation and acoustics. It is not a word used in casual conversation or general descriptive writing.