Ablaut

[æblaut]

Definition

(noun.) a vowel whose quality or length is changed to indicate linguistic distinctions (such as sing sang sung song).

Typed by Clyde--From WordNet

Definition

(n.) The substitution of one root vowel for another, thus indicating a corresponding modification of use or meaning; vowel permutation; as, get, gat, got; sing, song; hang, hung.

Checked by Elmer

Definition

n. (philol.) vowel permutation a substitution of one root vowel for another in derivation as in sing sang song sung distinct from the phonetic influence of a succeeding vowel as in the Umlaut. It is especially the change of a vowel to indicate tense-change in strong verbs.

Checked by Hayes