How Do You Spell CACUMINAL?

Pronunciation: [kakjˈuːmɪnə͡l] (IPA)

The spelling of the word "cacuminal" is derived from its Latin origin, which is evident in its phonetic transcription: /kəkjuːmɪnəl/. The first syllable "cacu" is pronounced with a schwa vowel sound followed by a hard K sound. The following syllable "mi" is pronounced with a long 'u' sound, and the final syllable "nal" is pronounced with a short 'i' sound. The word refers to a sound produced by the closure and release of the back of the tongue against the soft palate, often heard in the pronunciation of the letter K.

CACUMINAL Meaning and Definition

1. Cacuminal is an adjective that typically refers to a type of consonant sound formed by closing the vocal folds and then suddenly releasing them. It is also known as a voiceless aspirated stop or a voiceless ejective. The term comes from the Latin word cacumine, which means "the peak" or "the top". Cacuminal sounds are produced by creating a build-up of air pressure in the vocal tract and then abruptly releasing it. This results in a distinctive burst of sound characterized by a sudden release of air.

   Cacuminal sounds are commonly found in certain languages, particularly in the world's indigenous languages. They are often contrasted with other types of consonants, such as voiced stops or fricatives. Examples of cacuminal sounds can be found in languages like Tlingit, Navajo, and Amharic.

   In phonetics, cacuminal sounds are usually represented by specific symbols or letters, such as [pʼ], [tʼ], or [kʼ]. These symbols indicate that the sound is not only voiceless but also pronounced with a sharp release or aspiration. Cacuminal sounds can add phonetic variety and complexity to a language and are an important aspect of its overall sound system.

   Overall, cacuminal refers to a specific type of voiceless aspirated stop or ejective consonant sound characterized by a sudden release of air pressure in the vocal tract.

2. Relating to the top or apex of anything.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for CACUMINAL

• xacuminal
• vacuminal
• facuminal
• dacuminal
• czcuminal
• cscuminal
• cwcuminal
• cqcuminal
• caxuminal
• cavuminal
• cafuminal
• caduminal
• cacyminal
• cachminal
• cacjminal
• caciminal
• cac8minal
• cac7minal
• cacuninal

Etymology of CACUMINAL

The word "cacuminal" is derived from the Latin term "cacūmen", which means "the top of anything" or "the apex". "Cacūmen" itself is derived from the Latin verb "cacūre", meaning "to sharpen or make sharp", which is related to the adjective "cacūtus" meaning "sharp". In linguistics, the term "cacuminal" is used to describe a particular type of sound produced by the tongue contacting the hard palate near the front teeth, also known as a "palatal stop".

Plural form of CACUMINAL is CACUMINALS