alveolar

adj

1. (not-comparable, relational)Relating to the alveoli (small air sacs) of the lungs.
2. (not-comparable, relational)Relating to the jaw ridge containing the tooth sockets.
3. (not-comparable)Formed with the tongue touching or approaching the inner ridge of the gums of the upper front teeth.

   “In the case of the Wubuy alveolar versus retroflex contrast for instance, we argue that the phonetic overlap is so great that native listeners can behave as if this were an instance of a good and a 'less good' instance of a single category (CG).”

4. (not-comparable, relational)Relating to the glands with secretory cells about a central space.

noun

1. An alveolar consonant.