sternocleidomastoid
Syllables
ster-no-clei-do-mas-toid
Pronunciation
/stɜːnoʊˌkliːdoʊˈmæstɔɪd/
Stress
000101
Morphemes
sterno- + mastoid- + -oid
The word 'sternocleidomastoid' is a six-syllable noun of Greek and Latin origin, referring to a neck muscle. It is divided as ster-no-clei-do-mas-toid, with primary stress on the fifth syllable ('mas'). Syllabification follows the onset-rime principle and vowel-as-nucleus rule, with considerations for sonority sequencing.
Definitions
- 1
A paired muscle of the neck that flexes and rotates the head.
“The doctor palpated the sternocleidomastoid muscle to assess neck mobility.”
“Damage to the sternocleidomastoid can cause torticollis.”
syn:neck muscle
Stress pattern
Primary stress falls on the antepenultimate syllable ('mas'). The first three syllables are unstressed, followed by an unstressed syllable, then the stressed syllable, and finally an unstressed syllable.
Syllables
ster — Open syllable, minimal coda.. no — Open syllable.. clei — Open syllable.. do — Open syllable.. mas — Closed syllable.. toid — Closed syllable.
Word Parts
Onset-Rime Principle
Syllables are structured around an onset (initial consonants) and a rime (vowel and any following consonants).
Vowel as Nucleus
Each syllable must contain a vowel sound (nucleus).
Sonority Sequencing Principle
Consonant clusters are organized based on sonority.
- The length of the word and the presence of multiple consonant clusters can lead to slight variations in pronunciation.
- Vowel reduction may occur in faster speech.
Nearby Words
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