implosive
implosive Lexical Profile
implosive Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Relating to, characterized by, or tending toward a sudden inward collapse or violent bursting inward.
"The deep-sea submersible suffered an implosive structural failure due to the immense water pressure."
In phonetics, designating a consonant sound produced by drawing air inward into the mouth through a downward movement of the glottis.
"Many West African languages feature voiced implosive stops that contrast with ordinary plosives."
In psychology, relating to a behavioral therapy technique in which a patient is repeatedly exposed to vividly imagined anxiety-provoking stimuli until the fear subsides.
"The clinician recommended implosive therapy to help the patient overcome his severe phobia."
• noun
In phonetics, a consonant sound produced with an ingressive glottalic airstream mechanism, in which the glottis is lowered to draw air inward upon release of the oral closure.
"Swahili and Hausa both utilize voiced bilabial implosives in their phonological systems."
• Rhymes for implosive
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the late 19th century on the model of 'explosive', combining the Latin prefix 'in-' (assimilated to 'im-', meaning 'inward') with the stem of 'plodere' (to clap or burst).