DuckCorp Dico

Found one definition

1.                 From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
                   
   
   
                   
                     
   Phonics \Phon"ics\ (f[o^]n"[i^]ks), n.
      1. Same as Phonetics.
         [1913 Webster]
      2. A method of teaching reading and spelling to beginning
         students, emphasizing the sound values of individual
         letters and syllables, and the relationship between
         pronunciation and spelling. Contrasted to whole language
    method and sentence method.
         [PJC]