n. & v.
--n.
1. a unit of pronunciation uttered without interruption, forming the whole or a part of a word and usu. having one vowel sound often with a consonant or consonants before or after: there are two syllables in water and three in inferno.
2 a character or characters representing a syllable.
3 (usu. with neg.) the least amount of speech or writing (did not utter a syllable).
--v.tr. pronounce by syllables; articulate distinctly.
Phrases and idioms:
in words of one syllable expressed plainly or bluntly.
Derivatives:
syllabled adj. (also in comb.).
Etymology: ME f. AF sillable f. OF sillabe f. L syllaba f. Gk sullabe (as SYN-, lambano take)