nonsyllabic Meaning, Definition & Usage

1. adjective not forming a syllable or the nucleus of a syllable; consisting of a consonant sound accompanied in the same syllable by a vowel sound or consisting of a vowel sound dominated by other vowel sounds in a syllable (as the second vowel in a falling diphthong)
   unsyllabic.
   
   • the nonsyllabic `n' in `botany' when it is pronounced `botny'
   • the nonsyllabic `i' in `oi'
2. adjective (of speech sounds) not forming or capable of forming the nucleus of a syllable
   
   • initial 'l' in 'little' is nonsyllabic

WordNet