adjective
bilabial
by-LAY-bee-uhl
Bilabial (adjective) means Articulated with both lips. Example: “The sound /p/ is a bilabial consonant.”
adjective
1
technical Articulated with both lips.
"The sound /p/ is a bilabial consonant."
"English has several bilabial sounds, including /b/, /p/ and /m/."
noun
1
technical A speech sound produced by bringing both lips together.
"/m/ is a bilabial made by closing both lips completely."
"The chart lists bilabials separately from the dental and velar sounds."
How to use bilabial
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA sound made by pressing both lips together, like the sounds in p, b and m.
When to use it
This is a technical term from phonetics, not one used in everyday conversation.
Memory tip
Say p, b and m out loud and notice that both lips close each time — that closing is exactly what bilabial describes.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
bilabial consonant
bilabial sound
bilabial stop
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Fill the gap
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The sound /p/ is a _____ consonant.
Etymology
Bilabial is formed from the prefix bi-, meaning two, joined to labial, which relates to the lips.
Rhymes for bilabial
See all rhymes for bilabial →Frequently asked questions
What does bilabial mean in phonetics?
It describes a sound made by bringing both lips together, or is used as a noun for such a sound.
What are examples of bilabial sounds in English?
The consonants /p/, /b/ and /m/ are all bilabial, since each is made by closing both lips.
Is bilabial a noun or an adjective?
It can be either: as an adjective it describes a sound made with both lips, and as a noun it names that sound.
What is the meaning of bilabial?
"bilabial" (adjective) means articulated with both lips.
