plosive
2 synonyms for plosive, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A consonant sound made by briefly blocking the flow of air and then releasing it, such as p, b, t, d, k or g.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
occlusive
How to use plosive
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
plosive sound
plosive consonant
voiced plosive
Plosive is a technical term from phonetics and linguistics, not everyday speech.
Etymology
Plosive is a clipping of the word explosive, shortened to describe the small burst of air released in these speech sounds.
Full origin of plosive →Frequently asked questions
What is an example of a plosive sound?
Common plosives in English include p, b, t, d, k and g.
What does plosive mean in phonetics?
It describes a speech sound made by stopping the airflow and then releasing it suddenly.
Where does the word plosive come from?
It is a shortened form of the word explosive.
