lisp
n. countable B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈɫɪsp// UK //lˈɪsp// lisp
n. a way of speaking where someone has trouble making 's' and 'z' sounds correctly. You usually hear a 'th' sound instead of a sharp 's'.
n. a speech defect involving the misarticulation of sibilants, typically resulting in the substitution of 'th' sounds for 's' and 'z'.
He spoke with a slight lisp as a child.
The speech therapist worked with the student to correct a persistent lisp that made his 's' sounds fuzzy.
While some actors cultivate a lisp for specific character roles, most individuals seek professional therapy to ensure their sibilant consonants are crisp and intelligible.
Usage
Commonly used with the verb 'to have' or 'to speak with'.