adj. & n.
--adj.
1. of, for, or relating to the nose.
2 Phonet. (of a letter or a sound) pronounced with the breath passing through the nose, e.g. m, n, ng, or French en, un, etc.
3 (of the voice or speech) having an intonation caused by breathing through the nose.
--n.
1. Phonet. a nasal letter or sound.
2 hist. a nose-piece on a helmet.
Derivatives:
nasality n. nasalize v.intr. & tr. (also -ise). nasalization n. nasally adv.
Etymology: F nasal or med.L nasalis f. L nasus nose