Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1700-1800
Origin: alveolus 'hollow part in which a tooth is fastened' (17-21 centuries), from Latin, from alveus 'hollow place'

alveolar

 noun
     
al‧ve‧o‧lar [countable] technical
a consonant sound such as or that you make by putting the end of your tongue behind your upper front teeth
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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