ˈfɹɪkətɪv ˈfɹɪkətɪv ˈsɪb.ɪ.lənt ˈspaɪəɹənt ˈspaɪɹənt ˈspaɪəɹənt ˈspaɪɹənt ˈstɹaɪ.dənt of speech sounds produced by forcing air through a constricted passage (as ‘f’, ‘s’, ‘z’, or ‘th’ in both ‘thin’ and ‘then’) a continuant consonant produced by breath moving against a narrowing of the vocal tract