Spi"rant (?), n. [L. spirans,
-antis, p. pr. of spirare to breathe. See
Spirit.] (Phon.) A term used differently by
different authorities; -- by some as equivalent to fricative, -
- that is, as including all the continuous consonants, except the
nasals m, n, ng; with the further exception, by
others, of the liquids r, l, and the semivowels
w, y; by others limited to f, v, th
surd and sonant, and the sound of German ch, -- thus excluding
the sibilants, as well as the nasals, liquids, and semivowels. See
Guide to Pronunciation, ยงยง 197-208.