digraph

[ dahy-graf, -grahf ]

/ ˈdaɪ græf, -grɑf /

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noun

a pair of letters representing a single speech sound, as ea in meat or th in path.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of digraph

First recorded in 1780–90; di-¹ + -graph

OTHER WORDS FROM digraph

di·graph·ic

[dahy-graf-ik], /daɪˈgræf ɪk/, adjectivedi·graph·i·cal·ly, adverb

Words nearby digraph

dig one's own grave, digoneutic, dig out, digoxin, digram, digraph, digress, digression, digressive, digs, dig up

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use digraph in a sentence

A consonant or digraph between two sounded vowels usually joins the following vowel, rea-son, no-ti-fy, mo-ther.
Division of Words|Frederick W. Hamilton
When a consonant is doubled (not forming a digraph) the two are generally separated; beg-gar, bril-liant, cun-ning.
Division of Words|Frederick W. Hamilton
Excess (ss digraph, pronounced practically like a single s) gives ex-cess-es, ex-cess-ive, etc.
Division of Words|Frederick W. Hamilton
The digraph th is represented in Old English texts by and , no consistent distinction being made between them.
Anglo-Saxon Grammar and Exercise Book|C. Alphonso Smith

A digraph may either be a combination of two consonants or of two vowels or of a vowel and a consonant.
Plain English|Marian Wharton

British Dictionary definitions for digraph

digraph

/ (ˈdaɪɡrɑːf, -ɡræf) /

noun

a combination of two letters or characters used to represent a single speech sound such as gh in English toughCompare ligature (def. 5), diphthong

Derived forms of digraph

digraphic (daɪˈɡræfɪk), adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012