Geminate

To double or pair, especially (but not exclusively) used in linguistics to refer to a consonant that is held for a longer duration than a single consonant. This can be phonemic, meaning it distinguishes words (e.g., Italian 'anno' - year vs. 'ano' - anus), or allophonic, simply a phonetic variation. It can also be used more broadly to describe the act of creating doubles or duplicates of something. The term originates from the Latin 'geminatus', meaning 'doubled' or 'paired'.

Geminate meaning with examples

• In Italian, the geminate 'pp' in 'troppo' (too much) significantly lengthens the sound, distinguishing it from a single 'p'. The child practiced her pronunciation, working on the geminate consonants in words like 'pizza' to improve her accent. Learning geminate usage can assist when speaking Italian.
• The phonological rule dictates that in the given word the consonant will geminate. The script carefully marked instances where the pronunciation would require a geminate. He practiced the geminate in "mamma" and "palla" to get a feel for the prolonged sound.
• The programmer chose to geminate the 'if' statement within the code, creating a branching structure. The project aims to geminate the existing database to create a backup. To ensure maximum stability, the engineers decided to geminate the servers.
• The artist's technique involved using the geminate lines to create a sense of depth. He utilized the geminate brushes to create a more vibrant painting. The designer wanted to geminate the typeface, creating an extra-bold effect.
• The composer intended to geminate the rhythmic pattern in the second movement. The dance involved a geminate sequence that repeated every few measures. The choreographer chose to geminate the key move from the start of the dance to the end.