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triphthong

[ trif-thawng, -thong, trip- ]
/ ˈtrɪf θɔŋ, -θɒŋ, ˈtrɪp- /

noun

Phonetics. a monosyllabic speech-sound sequence perceived as being made up of three differing vowel qualities, as the pronunciation of our, especially in r-dropping dialects.
(not in technical use) a trigraph.

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Origin of triphthong

1590–1600; <New Latin triphthongus<Medieval Greek tríphthongos with three vowels, equivalent to tri-tri- + phthóngos voice, sound

OTHER WORDS FROM triphthong

triph·thong·al [trif-thawng-guhl, -thong-, trip-], /trɪfˈθɔŋ gəl, -ˈθɒŋ-, trɪp-/, adjective

Words nearby triphthong

triphibian, triphibious, trip-hop, triphosphate, triphosphoric acid, triphthong, triphylite, triphyllous, tripinnate, Tripitaka, triplane
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for triphthong

British Dictionary definitions for triphthong

triphthong
/ (ˈtrɪfθɒŋ, ˈtrɪp-) /

noun

a composite vowel sound during the articulation of which the vocal organs move from one position through a second, ending in a third
a trigraph representing a composite vowel sound such as this

Derived forms of triphthong

triphthongal, adjective

Word Origin for triphthong

C16: via New Latin from Medieval Greek triphthongos, from tri- + phthongos sound; compare diphthong
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