noun

plosive

PLOH-siv

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Plosive (noun) means a consonant sound made by briefly blocking the flow of air and then releasing it, such as p, b, t, d, k or g. Example: “The letter p represents a plosive at the start of the word pop.”

noun

phonetics A consonant sound made by briefly blocking the flow of air and then releasing it, such as p, b, t, d, k or g.

"The letter p represents a plosive at the start of the word pop."

"English has several plosives, including p, t and k."

"The microphone picked up a sharp plosive on the word banana."

adjective

phonetics Describing a speech sound produced by suddenly releasing air from a previously closed vocal passage.

"The word pop begins and ends with a plosive consonant."

"Singers are taught to soften plosive sounds close to the microphone."

How to use plosive

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA sharp consonant sound made by stopping and then releasing air, like p or b.

When to use it

Plosive is a technical term from phonetics and linguistics, not everyday speech.

Memory tip

Say a p or b sound and notice the small burst of air; that burst is what makes it a plosive.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

explosive →

Common pairings

plosive sound plosive consonant voiced plosive

Vocabulary Flow

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “plosive” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The letter p represents a _____ at the start of the word pop.

Etymology

Plosive is a clipping of the word explosive, shortened to describe the small burst of air released in these speech sounds.

Origin: English

Synonyms

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stop occlusive

Related words

end point start stop stay continue movement station

Rhymes for plosive

five give dive live olive drive alive dative endive strive derive active

See all rhymes for 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.

What is the meaning of plosive?

"plosive" (noun) means a consonant sound made by briefly blocking the flow of air and then releasing it, such as p, b, t, d, k or g.

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