SPLEYE-sing
/ˈsplaɪsɪŋ/
splicing is pronounced SPLEYE-sing (/ˈsplaɪsɪŋ/). Splicing refers to the act of joining or connecting two pieces of material, such as DNA, RNA, or physical fibers, by removing or combining segments to form a continuous whole. In genetics, it describes the process of intron removal and exon ligation in RNA. The term also broadly applies to cutting and rejoining to create a seamless composite. It implies precision and continuity in assembly.
Splicing refers to the act of joining or connecting two pieces of material, such as DNA, RNA, or physical fibers, by removing or combining segments to form a continuous whole. In genetics, it describes the process of intron removal and exon ligation in RNA. The term also broadly applies to cutting and rejoining to create a seamless composite. It implies precision and continuity in assembly.
"Researchers used splicing to engineer a longer gene sequence."
"The film editor leveled the scene by splicing together key shots."
"In molecular biology, splicing determines whether a gene is expressed correctly."
You say it as /ˈsplī-siNG/ in US and UK. The stress is on the first syllable: SPLI-cing. Start with the consonant cluster /spl-, with the lips preparing for the /p/ and the tongue for /l/. The vowel is a long i /iː/ as in “see,” followed by /sɪŋ/ with a soft, nasal ending. For US and UK, the final ng is velar nasal /ŋ/—mouth draws back slightly, and the tip of the tongue contacts the alveolar ridge momentarily for the /s/ before the nasal. Audio examples: listen to pronunciation on Forvo or Cambridge online dictionaries.
Common errors: mispronouncing the initial cluster as ‘splashing’ by adding an /æ/ or a /æ/ vowel; pronouncing the final /ɪŋ/ as /ɪn/ or /iŋ/ without correct nasalization; or reducing the length of the first vowel to a shorter /ɪ/. Correct these by maintaining a clear /ɪ/ in the second syllable and ensuring the /s/ and /ɪ/ separation is crisp. Place your tongue at the alveolar ridge for the /s/ and keep the /l/ light and quick before the /p/.
In US/UK, /ˈsplī-siŋ/ is consistent with a long /iː/ in the first vowel. Australian speakers often preserve the same vowel length but may exhibit a slightly more relaxed final /ŋ/ with a softer velar closure. Some UK speakers may lengthen the vowel slightly while keeping the final nasal as /ŋ/. The rhoticity does not alter the pronunciation because ‘splicing’ ends with /ŋ/. Overall, stress placement and the /spl-/ onset remain stable across these accents.
Three phonetic challenges: first, the dense onset cluster /spl-/ can be awkward; second, you must maintain a long /iː/ before an /s/; third, the final /ɪŋ/ requires nasalization and tongue positioning toward the velum. The combination of a compact, multi-consonant onset and a long vowel with a nasal ending makes the word tricky in fluent speech, potentially causing a slurred or misarticulated ending. Slow practice helps to lock in precise tongue timing.
No; the /spl/ cluster is processed as a unit. The /s/ is voiceless, the /p/ is aspirated after the /l/ transition, and the /l/ is light. You should not voice the /p/ as part of a separate syllable; instead, keep it as a rapid transition from /p/ to /l/. The tricky part is keeping the /l/ brief before the /p/ and not letting the /spl/ cluster become too loose. Use a light touch and keep contact minimal between segments.
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Splicing derives from the verb splice, which comes from Old French splicer, itself from Latin splicāre, meaning to plait, weave, or pluck. The root splic- traces to splice, with the sense of joining two things as a seam or bond. The current biology-related sense—joining RNA exons after intron removal—emerged in the 1970s as geneticists described the post-transcriptional processing of RNA. Early usage framed splicing as a mechanism that allows genes to diversify their products through alternative splicing. Over time, the word broadened to include any precise joining of materials, including cables, rope, or film footage, emphasizing controlled, seamless connections. The term has maintained its core sense of making a continuous whole, with modern technical contexts expanding its scope to include various types of molecular and material assembly.
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Words that rhyme with "splicing"
-ing sounds
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