nasal Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a consonant produced through the nose with the mouth closed
    nasal consonant.
  2. noun an elongated rectangular bone that forms the bridge of the nose
    nasal bone; os nasale.
  3. adjective of or in or relating to the nose
    rhinal.
    • nasal passages
  4. adjective satellite sounding as if the nose were pinched
    pinched; adenoidal.
    • a whining nasal voice

WordNet


Na"sal adjective
Etymology
F., from L. nasus the nose. See Nose.
Definitions
  1. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the nose.
  2. (Phon.) Having a quality imparted by means of the nose; and specifically, made by lowering the soft palate, in some cases with closure of the oral passage, the voice thus issuing (wholly or partially) through the nose, as in the consonants m, n, ng (see Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 20, 208); characterized by resonance in the nasal passage; as, a nasal vowel; a nasal utterance.
Na"sal noun
Definitions
  1. An elementary sound which is uttered through the nose, or through both the nose and the mouth simultaneously.
  2. (Med.) A medicine that operates through the nose; an errhine. Archaic
  3. (Anc. Armor) Part of a helmet projecting to protect the nose; a nose guard.
  4. (Anat.) One of the nasal bones.
  5. (Zoöl.) A plate, or scale, on the nose of a fish, etc.

Webster 1913