Definition of: syllable

(sil′ə·bəl) noun
1. Phonet. A word or part of a word uttered in a single vocal impulse, and consisting of a vowel (or diphthong) alone or with one or more consonants, or of a syllabic consonant. An open syllable is one ending in a vowel, as the first syllable of si·lent (sī′lənt); a closed syllable is one ending in a consonant, as the first and third syllables of cat·a·pult (kat′ə·pult).
2. A part of a written or printed word corresponding, more or less, to the spoken division. In this dictionary, syllable breaks are indicated by centered dots.
3. The smallest particle of expression; the least detail, mention, or trace: Please don't repeat a syllable of what you've heard here.
—v. ·bled, ·bling v.t.
1. To pronounce the syllables of; utter; speak.
2. Obs. To syllabicate.
—v.i.
3. To pronounce syllables. [<AF sillable, OF sillabe <L syllaba <Gk. syllabē <syllambanein <syn- together + lambanein take]