noun
- consonant sounds produced by completely blocking airflow and then releasing it suddenly
Usage: phonetics; linguistics
Examples
- The sounds /p/, /b/, /t/, /d/, /k/, and /g/ are plosives in English.
- Students learning phonetics must distinguish between plosives and fricatives.
- Plosives are characterized by a complete closure of the vocal tract.
- The word ‘top’ begins and ends with plosives.
- Speech therapists often work on proper articulation of plosives.
- Voiced plosives like /b/ and /d/ involve vibration of the vocal cords.
- Plosives create a burst of air when the blockage is released.