Definitions

1. verb

to change the pronunciation of a consonant sound to one made with the breath passing through the tongue and the upper teeth, as in the pronunciation of ‘s’ or ‘z’ in some languages.

“The dialect of the city assibilates the sound of ‘s’ to ‘z’ in many words.”

2. verb

to pronounce or articulate a consonant sound in this way.

“The foreign speaker was struggling to assibilate the ‘s’ sound in the local accent.”