— phonatory /foh"neuh tawr'ee, -tohr'ee/ , adj.
/foh nay"sheuhn/ , n. Phonet.
1. rapid, periodic opening and closing of the glottis through separation and apposition of the vocal cords that, accompanied by breath under lung pressure, constitutes a source of vocal sound.
2. (not in technical use) voice; vocalization. Cf. voice (defs. 15, 16).
[ 1835-45; PHON- + -ATION ]