Main Entry: vow·el
Pronunciation: 'vau(-&)l
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French vowele, from Latin vocalis -- more at VOCALIC
1 : one of a class of speech sounds in the articulation of which the oral part of the breath channel is not blocked and is not constricted enough to cause audible friction; broadly : the one most prominent sound in a syllable
2 : a letter or other symbol representing a vowel -- usually used in English of a, e, i, o, u, and sometimes y


Main Entry: 1a
Pronunciation: 'A
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural a's or as /'Az/
Usage: often capitalized, often attributive
...
7 capitalized : the one of the four ABO blood groups characterized by the presence of antigens designated by the letter A and by the presence of antibodies against the antigens present in the B blood group