triphthong
Americannoun
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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.
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(not in technical use) a trigraph.
noun
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a composite vowel sound during the articulation of which the vocal organs move from one position through a second, ending in a third
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a trigraph representing a composite vowel sound such as this
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of triphthong
1590–1600; < New Latin triphthongus < Medieval Greek tríphthongos with three vowels, equivalent to tri- tri- + phthóngos voice, sound
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A triphthong is three vowels joined in one syllable; as, eau in beau, iew in view, oeu in manoeuvre.
From The Grammar of English Grammars by Goold Brown
Trigraph, trī′graf, n. a combination of three letters sounded as one, a triphthong.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various
The elements which he enumerates are thirty-five; but if oi is not a triphthong, they are to be thirty-six.
From The Grammar of English Grammars by Goold Brown
Only the first two of these four words contain a triphthong.
From Frédéric Mistral Poet and Leader in Provence by Charles Alfred Downer
The only proper triphthong in English is uoy, as in buoy, buoyant, buoyancy; unless uoi in quoit may be considered a parallel instance.
From The Grammar of English Grammars by Goold Brown
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