Meaning of palatal

(adj) relating to or lying near the palate; "palatal index"; "the palatine tonsils"

produced with the front of the tongue near or touching the hard palate (as `y') or with the blade of the tongue near the hard palate (as `ch' in `chin' or `j' in `gin')

(noun) a semivowel produced with the tongue near the palate (like the initial sound in the English word `yeast')