Nasal is a five-letter word with three sounds. The IPA transcription of this word is /ˈneɪzəl/. The initial sound is /n/, pronounced with the tip of the tongue touching the roof of the mouth. The second sound is /eɪ/, pronounced by raising the tongue towards the roof of the mouth and gliding towards the back. The final sound is /zəl/, pronounced by vibrating the vocal cords and making a buzzing sound with the tip of the tongue against the alveolar ridge. The spelling of the word "nasal" closely follows its pronunciation.
Nasal is an adjective that refers to something related to or involving the nose. It can describe characteristics or functions of the nose, as well as things associated with it.
In terms of anatomy, nasal refers to the structures, passages, or cavities located in or connected to the nose. For example, the nasal cavity is the hollow space within the nose that allows air to pass through when breathing. The nasal septum is the cartilaginous and bony partition that divides the nasal cavity into two separate nostrils.
Nasal can also pertain to sounds or speech produced through the nose. This may indicate a distinct quality in the pronunciation of certain consonant sounds, such as "m" or "n," where the air passes through the nasal cavity. For instance, when pronouncing the letter "m," it involves nasal air flow through the nose, compared to pronouncing the letter "p," which does not require nasal airflow.
Moreover, nasal can describe certain medical conditions involving the nose, such as nasal congestion, which refers to the blockage or stuffiness of the nasal passages due to swelling of the nasal tissues or excessive mucus production.
In summary, nasal refers to anything associated with the nose, including its anatomy, functions, sounds, speech, and various medical conditions.
Relating to the nose.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
• Pert. to the nose; formed or affected by the nose.
• A letter whose sound is affected by the nose, or is uttered through the nose; a medicine which operates through the nose.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "nasal" comes from the Latin term "nasus", which means "nose". It entered the English language in the late 16th century.