- minimal pair
- UK / US
noun [countable]
Word forms "minimal pair":
singular minimal pair plural minimal pairs linguisticsa pair of words that are different from each other in one sound only, for example pan and can
English dictionary. 2014.
minimal pair
Look at other dictionaries:
Minimal pair — In phonology, minimal pairs are pairs of words or phrases in a particular language, which differ in only one phonological element, such as a phone, phoneme, toneme or chroneme and have distinct meanings. They are used to demonstrate that two… … Wikipedia
minimal pair — noun : two spoken language items that are identical in all constituents except one (as ]ˈded: ˈdad]) and that are often used in demonstrating or testing the phonemicness of the differing constituents * * * Ling. a pair of words, as pin and bin,… … Useful english dictionary
minimal pair — noun A pair of words differing by only one phonetic segment or suprasegment, used to prove the validity of a proposed phoneme, toneme, or chroneme. beach and bitch and bun and ban are examples of minimal pairs. See Also: near minimal pair … Wiktionary
minimal pair — n. (ling.) to produce; represent a minimal pair * * * represent a minimal pair (ling.) to produce … Combinatory dictionary
minimal pair — Ling. a pair of words, as pin and bin, or bet and bed, differing only by one sound in the same position in each word, esp. when such a pair is taken as evidence for the existence of a phonemic contrast between the two sounds. [1940 45] * * * … Universalium
minimal pair — min′imal pair′ n. phn a pair of words, as pin and bin, differing only by one sound in the same position in each word, esp. when taken as evidence of a phonemic contrast • Etymology: 1940–45 … From formal English to slang
minimal pair — /mɪnəməl ˈpɛə/ (say minuhmuhl pair) noun Phonology two words which can be represented by phonemic sequences which differ from each other at one place only, as pat/pæt/ and part/pat/ …
minimal pair — noun Date: 1942 two linguistic units that differ in a single distinctive feature or constituent (as voice in the initial consonants of bat and pat) … New Collegiate Dictionary
near-minimal pair — noun A pair of words differing by a few (but more than one) phonetic segments or suprasegments, used to suggest a proposed phoneme, toneme, or chroneme may be valid. See Also: minimal pair … Wiktionary
pair — n. (ling.) a minimal pair * * * [peə] (ling.) a minimal pair … Combinatory dictionary
