monophthong

[ mon-uhf-thawng, -thong ]

/ ˈmɒn əfˌθɔŋ, -ˌθɒŋ /

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noun Phonetics.

a vowel retaining the same quality throughout its duration.

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Compare diphthong.

Origin of monophthong

1610–20; <Greek monóphthongos equivalent to mono-mono- + phthóngos sound

OTHER WORDS FROM monophthong

mon·oph·thon·gal

[mon-uhf-thawng-guhl, -thong-], /ˈmɒn əfˌθɔŋ gəl, -ˌθɒŋ-/, adjective

Words nearby monophthong

monophasic, monophobia, monophonic, monophony, monophosphate, monophthong, monophthongize, monophyletic, monophyllous, Monophysite, Monophysitism

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British Dictionary definitions for monophthong

monophthong

/ (ˈmɒnəfˌθɒŋ) /

noun

a simple or pure vowel

Derived forms of monophthong

monophthongal (ˌmɒnəfˈθɒŋɡəl), adjective

Word Origin for monophthong

C17: from Greek monophthongos, from mono- + thongos sound

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