In
phonetics, a
stop, also known as a
plosive, is an
oral occlusive, a
consonant in which the vocal tract is blocked so that all
airflow ceases. The occlusion may be made with the tongue blade (, ) or body (, ), lips (, ), or glottis . Stops contrast with
nasals, where the vocal tract is blocked but airflow continues through the nose, as in and , and with
fricatives, where partial occlusion impedes but does not block airflow in the vocal tract.