Definition & Meaning of "glottal stop"

What is a "glottal stop"?

A glottal stop is a type of consonant sound produced by obstructing airflow in the vocal tract at the glottis, which is the space between the vocal cords. This sound occurs when the vocal cords close briefly, stopping the airflow, and then release it suddenly. In English, an example of a glottal stop can be heard in the middle of the phrase "uh-oh" or in some dialects of English where it replaces the "t" sound in words like "button" or "water." The glottal stop is significant in phonetics as it adds variety to speech sounds and can influence pronunciation and meaning in language.