syllabic

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   (of speech sounds) forming the nucleus of a syllable

   the syllabic 'nl' in 'riddle'

2. 2
   adj

   having lines based on the number of syllables rather than on rhythmical arrangement of stresses or quantities

   I love listening to syllabic verse.

3. 3
   adj

   consisting of or using a syllabary

   eskimos of the eastern Arctic have a system of syllabic writing

4. 4
   adj

   of or relating to syllables

   syllabic accent

5. 5
   adj

   Of, relating to, or consisting of a syllable or syllables.

   Most final consonants have been lost, resulting in a tonal language with a rich consonantal and vocalic inventory, but with a relatively simple syllabic structure..

6. 6
   adj

   consisting of a syllable or syllables

7. 7
   adj

   Pronounced with every syllable distinct.

8. 8
   adj

   Designating a sound that is or can be the most sonorant segment of a syllable, as a vowel or a resonant. In the word riddle ([ɹɪdl̩]), the two syllabic sounds are [ɪ] and [l̩].

Etymology

From Medieval Latin syllabicus, from Ancient Greek συλλαβικός (sullabikós), from συλλαβή (sullabḗ, “syllable”).