ALVEOLAR Meaning and
Definition
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The term "alveolar" is an adjective with multiple definitions depending on the context. In dentistry, "alveolar" refers to the dental alveolus, which is the bony socket that holds the roots of the teeth. This definition is centered around the anatomical structure of the teeth and their sockets.
In linguistics and phonetics, "alveolar" describes a specific place of articulation in speech production. It refers to sounds that are made by placing the tip of the tongue against or near the alveolar ridge, located behind the upper front teeth. These sounds include consonants like /t/, /d/, /n/, /l/, and /s/. The tongue taps or touches the ridge to create these sounds, and the term "alveolar" characterizes this particular method of pronunciation.
The adjective "alveolar" can also refer to anything related to or resembling an alveolus, which is a small, hollow structure resembling a cavity or sac. Medical contexts often use this definition, as in "alveolar ventilation" which refers to the amount of air exchanged in the alveoli of the lungs during respiration.
Overall, "alveolar" is a versatile term with different meanings depending on the field of study. Whether it is in dentistry, linguistics, or biology, the word typically denotes something related to the alveolus, the specific articulation of certain speech sounds, or things that are similar in structure to alveoli.
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Relating to an alveolus in any sense.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
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Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
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Other Common Misspellings for ALVEOLAR
Etymology of ALVEOLAR
The word "alveolar" has its etymology in the Latin word "alveolus", which means "small cavity" or "little hollow". "Alveolus" itself comes from "alvus", meaning "cavity" or "belly". In dental anatomy, alveoli refer to the socket-like cavities in the jawbones where the teeth are anchored. The term "alveolar" is also used linguistically to describe sounds produced with the tip or blade of the tongue against or near the alveolar ridge in the mouth.
Similar spelling words for ALVEOLAR
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