A speech sound whose articulation does not involve complete closure of the vocal tract; the opposite of continuant is stop or plosive.
                                                            
                                                     
                        
                                                
                        
                        
                            A sound that permits continuous airflow through the center of the oral tract.
                                                            
                                                     
                        
                                                
                        
                        
                            A continuant is a sound produced with an incomplete closure of the vocal tract. That is, any sound except a stop (plosive or nasal). An affricate is considered to be both stop and continuant.