Noun

Singular accent

Plural accents

accent (plural accents)

1. A higher or stronger articulation of a particular syllable of a word or phrase in order to distinguish it from the others or to emphasize it.
2. A mark or character used in writing, in order to indicate the place of the spoken accent, or to indicate the nature or quality of the vowel marked.
3. Modulation of the voice in speaking; the manner of speaking or pronouncing; a peculiar or characteristic modification of the voice, expressing emotion; tone; as, a foreign accent; a French or a German accent.
   • Beguiled you in a plain accent. - Shakespeare, King Lear, II-ii
   • The tender accent of a woman's cry. - Prior
4. A nonstandard way of pronouncing.

   The nonnative English speaker has an accent.

5. A word; a significant tone or sound.
6. (in plural) Expressions in general; speech.
7. (prosody) Stress laid on certain syllables of a verse.
8. (music) A regularly recurring stress upon the tone to mark the beginning, and, more feebly, the third part of the measure.
9. (music) A special emphasis of a tone, even in the weaker part of the measure.
10. (music) The rhythmical accent, which marks phrases and sections of a period.
11. (music) The expressive emphasis and shading of a passage.
12. (mathematics) 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''.
13. (geometry) A mark at the right hand of a number, indicating minutes of a degree, seconds, etc., as in "12' 27''", meaning twelve minutes and twenty-seven seconds.
14. (engineering) A mark used to denote feet and inches, as in "6' 10''", meaning six feet ten inches.
15. Paint, wallpaper, or similar coating that contrasts with the surroundings.

Derived terms

• accentmark
• acute accent
• grave accent
• primary accent
• secondary accent
• tonic accent

Accent may refer to:

Speech and language

• Accent (sociolinguistics), pronunciation common to a certain language dialect
• Accent (poetry), of a word
• Stress (linguistics), tone levels and emphasis used in many languages to provide information when using the language
• A diacritical mark is also known as an accent.
• Fallacy of accent, a logical fallacy

Music

• Accent (music), an emphasis placed on a particular note
• Accent (band), Belarusian heavy metal band

Computers

• Accent programming language for computers
• Accent kernel, an operating system kernel

Other

• Hyundai Accent, car produced by Hyundai Motor Company
• Accent Records, a record label
• ACCENT Speaker's Bureau, a student-run organization at the University of Florida
• Brand name for monosodium glutamate (MSG)