phonate UK /fəʊˈneɪt/US /ˈfoʊˌneɪt/verb 2adjective 1forms 3 verb2 •To make sounds with one's voice.His voice is perfect; he phonates loudly and well. — 1873 •To use one's voice to make specific sounds.[T]he tongue may rise up in the mouth, even while the patient phonates the vowel "a" [eh], in which case it will also need to be depressed by the finger, as just described. — 1876 adjective1 •voiced formsphonated · phonating · phonates