palatal
adjective
1. relating to or lying near the palate
- palatal index
- the palatine tonsils
Similar word(s): palatine
2. produced with the front of the tongue near or touching the hard palate (as `y') or with the blade of the tongue near the hard palate (as `ch' in `chin' or `j' in `gin')
Similar word(s): soft, palatalised, palatalized
noun
1. a semivowel produced with the tongue near the palate (like the initial sound in the English word `yeast')
Definition categories: communication, glide, semivowel