nonsyllabic meaning and definition

NONSYLLABIC adjective

Definition of nonsyllabic (adjective)

1. not forming a syllable or the nucleus of a syllable; consisting of a consonant sound accompanied in the same syllable by a vowel sound or consisting of a vowel sound dominated by other vowel sounds in a syllable (as the second vowel in a falling diphthong)
   • "the nonsyllabic `n' in `botany' when it is pronounced `botny'"; "the nonsyllabic `i' in `oi'"
   • synonyms: unsyllabic
   • antonym: syllabic
2. (of speech sounds) not forming or capable of forming the nucleus of a syllable
   • "initial 'l' in 'little' is nonsyllabic"
   • antonym: syllabic