(adj)of speech sounds produced by forcing air through a constricted passage (as `f', `s', `z', or `th' in both `thin' and `then'), Syn.strident, spirant, sibilant, continuant
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English (GCIDE) v.0.53Collaborative International Dictionary (GCIDE)
a. [ L. sibilans, -antis, p. pr. of sibilare to hiss: cf. F. sibilant. ] Making a hissing sound; uttered with a hissing sound; hissing; as, s, z, sh, and zh, are sibilant elementary sounds. -- n. A sibiliant letter. [ 1913 Webster ]