Definitions for accentˈæk sɛnt; ækˈsɛnt

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

ac•centˈæk sɛnt; ækˈsɛnt(n.; v. also)

prominence of a syllable in terms of differential loudness, pitch, length, or a combination of these.
Category: Phonetics
degree of prominence of a syllable within a word or of a word within a phrase:
primary accent; secondary accent.
Category: Phonetics
a mark indicating stress (as ′ or `), vowel quality (as French grave `, acute ´, circumflex ^), pitch, distinction in meaning, or that an ordinarily silent vowel is to be pronounced.
regularly recurring stress in verse.
a mode of pronunciation characteristic of or distinctive to the speech of a particular person, group, or locality:
a southern accent.
Category: Phonetics
such a mode of pronunciation recognized as being of foreign origin:
She still speaks with an accent.
a stress or emphasis given to certain musical notes. a mark indicating this. stress or emphasis regularly recurring as a feature of rhythm.
Often, accents. the tones, inflections, choice of words, etc., that identify a particular individual or express a particular emotion.
special attention or emphasis:
an accent on accuracy.
a contrasting detail.
a distinctive quality or feature.
a symbol used to distinguish similar mathematical quantities that differ in value, as in b~, b〃, b‴ (called b prime, b second or b double prime, b third or b triple prime, respectively). a symbol used to indicate a particular unit of measure, as feet (~) or inches (〃), minutes (~) or seconds (〃). a symbol used to indicate the order of a derivative of a function in calculus, as f~ (called f prime) is the first
f.
Category: Math, Weights and Measures
accents, words; language; speech:
He spoke in accents bold.
(v.t.)to pronounce with prominence (a syllable within a word or a word within a phrase):
Accent the first syllable.
Category: Phonetics
to mark with a written accent or accents.
to give emphasis or prominence to; accentuate.

Origin of accent:

1520–30; < L accentus speaking tone =ac-ac - +-centus,cantus song (see canto )

ac•cen′tu•a•ble(adj.)

Princeton's WordNet

accent, speech pattern(noun)
distinctive manner of oral expression
"he couldn't suppress his contemptuous accent"; "she had a very clear speech pattern"
emphasis, accent(noun)
special importance or significance
"the red light gave the central figure increased emphasis"; "the room was decorated in shades of grey with distinctive red accents"
dialect, idiom, accent(noun)
the usage or vocabulary that is characteristic of a specific group of people
"the immigrants spoke an odd dialect of English"; "he has a strong German accent"; "it has been said that a language is a dialect with an army and navy"
stress, emphasis, accent(noun)
the relative prominence of a syllable or musical note (especially with regard to stress or pitch)
"he put the stress on the wrong syllable"
accent, accent mark(verb)
a diacritical mark used to indicate stress or placed above a vowel to indicate a special pronunciation
stress, emphasize, emphasise, punctuate, accent, accentuate(verb)
to stress, single out as important
"Dr. Jones emphasizes exercise in addition to a change in diet"
stress, accent, accentuate(verb)
put stress on; utter with an accent
"In Farsi, you accent the last syllable of each word"

Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary

accent(noun)əksˈɛnt
a way of pronouncing words
a foreign/French/English etc. accent
accentəksˈɛnt
a mark above a letter showing its pronunciation
Caf; é has an accent on the 'e'.

Webster Dictionary

Accent(noun)
a superior force of voice or of articulative effort upon some particular syllable of a word or a phrase, distinguishing it from the others
Accent(noun)
a mark or character used in writing, and serving to regulate the pronunciation; esp.: (a) a mark to indicate the nature and place of the spoken accent; (b) a mark to indicate the quality of sound of the vowel marked; as, the French accents
Accent(noun)
modulation of the voice in speaking; manner of speaking or pronouncing; peculiar or characteristic modification of the voice; tone; as, a foreign accent; a French or a German accent
Accent(noun)
a word; a significant tone
Accent(noun)
expressions in general; speech
Accent(noun)
stress laid on certain syllables of a verse
Accent(noun)
a regularly recurring stress upon the tone to mark the beginning, and, more feebly, the third part of the measure
Accent(noun)
a special emphasis of a tone, even in the weaker part of the measure
Accent(noun)
the rhythmical accent, which marks phrases and sections of a period
Accent(noun)
the expressive emphasis and shading of a passage
Accent(noun)
a mark placed at the right hand of a letter, and a little above it, to distinguish magnitudes of a similar kind expressed by the same letter, but differing in value, as y', y''
Accent(noun)
a mark at the right hand of a number, indicating minutes of a degree, seconds, etc.; as, 12'27'', i. e., twelve minutes twenty seven seconds
Accent(noun)
a mark used to denote feet and inches; as, 6' 10'' is six feet ten inches
Accent(verb)
to express the accent of (either by the voice or by a mark); to utter or to mark with accent
Accent(verb)
to mark emphatically; to emphasize