palatal

adj 1: relating to or lying near the palate; "palatal index"; "the

palatine tonsils" [syn: {palatine}]

2: produced with the front of the tongue near or touching the

hard palate (as `y') or with the blade of the tongue near

the hard palate (as `ch' in `chin' or `j' in `gin') [syn:

{palatalized}]

n : a semivowel produced with the tongue near the palate (like

the initial sound in the English word `yeast')