triphthong
[ trif-thawng, -thong, trip- ]
/ ˈtrɪf θɔŋ, -θɒŋ, ˈtrɪp- /
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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.
Nearby words
triphenylmethane dye, triphibian, triphibious, triphosphate, triphosphoric acid, triphthong, triphylite, triphyllous, tripinnate, tripitaka, triplane
Origin of triphthong
1590–1600; < New Latin triphthongus < Medieval Greek tríphthongos with three vowels, equivalent to tri- tri- + phthóngos voice, sound
Related forms
triph·thong·al [trif-thawng-guh l, -thong-, trip-] /trɪfˈθɔŋ gəl, -ˈθɒŋ-, trɪp-/, adjectiveDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for triphthong
Trigraph, trī′graf, n. a combination of three letters sounded as one, a triphthong.
This triphthong (aye) is a combination of the slender sound of a, heard in pa-per; and the e in metre.
Triphthong, trif′thong, n. a combination of three vowels to form one sound.
Only the first two of these four words contain a triphthong.
Frdric Mistral|Charles Alfred Downer
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
triphthongal, adjectiveWord 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
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