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monophthong

[mon-uh f-thawng, -thong]
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noun Phonetics.
  1. 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
Related formsmon·oph·thon·gal [mon-uh f-thawng-guh l, -thong-] /ˈmɒn əfˌθɔŋ gəl, -ˌθɒŋ-/, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
British Dictionary definitions for monophthong

monophthong

noun
  1. a simple or pure vowel
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Derived Formsmonophthongal (ˌmɒnəfˈθɒŋɡəl), adjective

Word Origin

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