fricative Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a continuant consonant produced by breath moving against a narrowing of the vocal tract
    spirant; fricative consonant.
  2. adjective satellite of speech sounds produced by forcing air through a constricted passage (as `f', `s', `z', or `th' in both `thin' and `then')
    spirant; sibilant; strident; continuant.

WordNet

Fric"a*tive adjective
Etymology
See Frication.
Definitions
  1. (Phon.) Produced by the friction or rustling of the breath, intonated or unintonated, through a narrow opening between two of the mouth organs; uttered through a close approach, but not with a complete closure, of the organs of articulation, and hence capable of being continued or prolonged; -- said of certain consonantal sounds, as f, v, s, z, etc. -- n. A fricative consonant letter or sound. See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 197-206, etc.

Webster 1913