phonate

verb

pho·​nate ˈfō-ˌnāt How to pronounce phonate (audio)
phonated; phonating

intransitive verb

: to produce vocal sounds and especially speech
phonation
fō-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce phonate (audio)
noun

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from phonation, borrowed from French, from Greek phōnḗ "voice, speech" + French -ation -ation — more at phono-

Note: The French word has been credited to the anatomist François Chaussier (1746-1828), but it is not clear where or even if he used it in a publication.

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of phonate was in 1876

Dictionary Entries Near phonate

phonal

phonate

phonautograph

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Phonate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phonate. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

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