accents

noun

(linguistics, sociolinguistics) The distinctive manner of pronouncing a language associated with a particular region, social group, etc., whether of a native speaker or a foreign speaker; the phonetic and phonological aspects of a dialect.

(linguistics) A higher-pitched or stronger (louder or longer) articulation of a particular syllable of a word or phrase in order to distinguish it from the others or to emphasize it.

(figuratively) Emphasis or importance in general.

Modulation of the voice in speaking; the manner of speaking or pronouncing; a peculiar or characteristic modification of the voice, expressing emotion; tone.

(orthography) A mark or character used in writing, in order to indicate the place of the spoken accent, or to indicate the nature or quality of the vowel marked.

(sign languages) A distinctive manner of producing a sign language, such as someone who does not normally use a certain sign language might have when using it.

(music) A regularly recurring stress upon the tone to mark the beginning, and, more feebly, the third part of the measure.

(music) A special emphasis of a tone, even in the weaker part of the measure.

(music) A mark used to represent this special emphasis.

(music) The rhythmical accent, which marks phrases and sections of a period.

Emphasis laid on a part of an artistic design or composition; an emphasized detail, in particular a detail in sharp contrast to its surroundings.

A very small gemstone set into a piece of jewellery.

(usually plural only) Expressions in general; speech.

(prosody, poetry) Stress laid on certain syllables of a verse.

(mathematics) A prime symbol.

A word; a significant tone or sound.

(informal, sometimes proscribed) A manner of pronunciation suggesting that the speaker is from a different region; a foreign accent.

(archaic) Utterance.

verb

(transitive) To express the accent of vocally; to utter with accent.

(transitive) To mark emphatically; to emphasize; to accentuate; to make prominent.

(transitive) To mark with written accents.

Roots

canocent- · Latin · sing

Synonyms & related words for accents

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Words related to accents

Explore words related to accents — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include dialect, accentuate, accented, accentual, accenting, emphasis, martellato, mispronunciation. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Where does accents come from?

The word accents breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root cent-, from Latin cano (“sing”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.