3 syllables: De, his, cence. Stress on his.
dih-IS-uhns
/dɪˈhɪsəns/
Dehiscence is pronounced dih-IS-uhns (/dɪˈhɪsəns/). It has three syllables (De-his-cence), with the stress on "his". Dehiscence is a noun referring to the splitting or bursting open of a container or part, such as a plant ovary or surgical incision. It can describe the rupture of seeds from a pod or the separation of wound edges after surgery. The term is commonly used in medical, botanical, and anatomical contexts to denote rupture or splitting along a seam or line of weakness.
nounDehiscence is a noun referring to the splitting or bursting open of a container or part, such as a plant ovary or surgical incision. It can describe the rupture of seeds from a pod or the separation of wound edges after surgery. The term is commonly used in medical, botanical, and anatomical contexts to denote rupture or splitting along a seam or line of weakness.
"The dehiscence of the pod released a shower of seeds."
"Postoperative dehiscence required immediate wound care to prevent infection."
"Botanists study dehiscence patterns to understand seed dispersal mechanisms."
Dehiscence is pronounced di-HIS-sense, with primary stress on the second syllable: /ˌdiːˈhɪsəns/ in US and UK transcription; an alternate concise IPA is /ˌdɛˈhɪsəns/ depending on dialect. Start with “dee” or “di” as in dehydrate, then a short “his” syllable, and end with a soft “sense.” Visualize the mouth: lips unrounded, jaw neutral, tongue high in the front for the “hi” portion, finishing with a crisp, unstressed “sence.” Audio references may help—listen to medical diction samples for exact cadence.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (saying de-HI-sence) and blending the middle syllable too quickly, turning it into di-HIS-sense or de-hi-SEQ. Another pitfall is pronouncing the ending as -sence with a hard, clipped ‘c’ instead of a softer ‘səns.’ Correct by isolating the three syllables: de- / di- ˈhɪ-/ sense, ensuring primary stress on the second syllable and a gentle, elongated final -ən(t)s sound in connected speech.
In US, /ˌdiːˈhɪsəns/ tends to have a longer 'ee' in the first syllable and a rhotic tendency with a subtle /r/ influence in some speakers. UK tends to shorter first vowel, with non-rhotic rhymes; /ˌdɪˈhɪsəns/ may occur in careful speech. Australian speakers often blend vowels more, giving /ˌdiˈhɪsəns/ where the second syllable carries the primary stress but with reduced emphasis on the 'e' at the end. Across all, the second syllable remains stressed, with a light, unvoiced final -səns pattern.
The difficulty lies in the multi-syllabic structure and the intrusion of the unstressed final syllable. The sequence -his- blends quickly with -cence, and the /s/ and /ən(s)/ endings demand precise articulation to avoid a slurred or drawled ending. The medial /h/ creates a brief friction that must be audible but not aspirated. Paying attention to the secondary stress and ensuring a clean, light final /s/ helps clarity across accents.
In most dialects, the 'c' in dehiscence is pronounced as a soft /s/ sound, not a hard /k/. The ending sounds like -səns, with the soft /s/ before the final /əns/. Some learners momentarily voice the c, turning it into /s/ with a slight 'k' influence, but that is generally incorrect in medical and botanical usage. Focus on /ˈhɪsəns/ with a clear /s/ before the final /əns/.
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Dehiscence comes from the Latin dehiscere, meaning to gape open (de- ‘apart’ + hiscere ‘to gape or yawn’). The root is related to dehiscence in botany and medicine, where the term describes rupture along a seam or natural line of weakness. First used in English in the 17th century, it appeared in botanical prose to describe the splitting of seed pods and anthers. Over time, its usage broadened to medicine and surgery to denote wound edges parting after closure or inadequate healing. The word retains a precise, technical tone and is often encountered in scholarly articles, clinical notes, and botanical descriptions. The suffix -ence marks a noun of action or condition, aligning with related terms like incisure and rupture. Modern usage emphasizes the mechanism (rupture, seam failure) and the context (botany, medicine, horticulture). In contemporary literature, dehiscence is frequently paired with adjectives like primary, secondary, or traumatic to specify the rupture type. The evolution reflects expanding anatomical and biological contexts, preserving its core sense of “opening along a seam.”
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Words that rhyme with "Dehiscence"
-nce sounds
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