1 velar | Definition of velar
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velar

adjective
ve·​lar | \ ˈvÄ“-lÉ™r How to pronounce velar (audio) \

Definition of velar

1 : formed with the back of the tongue touching or near the soft palate the velar \k\ of \ˈkül\ cool
2 : of, forming, or relating to a velum and especially the soft palate
Other Words from velar Did You Know? Learn More about velar

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Other Words from velar

velar noun

Did You Know?

Velar is ultimately derived from Latin velum (meaning "curtain" or "veil"), which was itself adopted into English by way of New Latin as a word for the soft palate (the fold at the back of the hard palate-palate, by the way, refers to the roof of the mouth-that partially separates the mouth from the pharynx). Velar is used by phonologists to refer to the position of the tongue in relation to the soft palate when making certain sounds. Other terms for what phonologists refer to as "places of articulation" are palatal (tongue against the roof of the mouth), dental (tongue against the upper teeth), and alveolar (tongue against the inner surface of the gums of the upper front teeth).

First Known Use of velar

1876, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for velar

velum + -ar, probably after French vélaire or German velar

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More Definitions for velar

velar

adjective
ve·​lar | \ ˈvÄ“-lÉ™r How to pronounce velar (audio) \

Medical Definition of velar

: of, forming, or relating to a velum and especially the soft palate

More from Merriam-Webster on velar

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with velar

Spanish Central: Translation of velar

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