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diphthong
6 dictionary results for: diphthong
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
diph·thong       [dif-thawng, -thong, dip-] Pronunciation Key
–noun
1.Phonetics. an unsegmentable, gliding speech sound varying continuously in phonetic quality but held to be a single sound or phoneme and identified by its apparent beginning and ending sound, as the oi-sound of toy or boil.
2.(not in technical use)
a.a digraph, as the ea of meat.
b.a ligature, as æ.
–verb (used with object), verb (used without object)
3.to diphthongize.

[Origin: 1425–75; late ME diptonge < LL diphthongus < Gk díphthongos lit., having two sounds (di- di-1 + phthóngos voice, sound)]

diph·thon·gal       [dif-thawng-guhl, -thong-, dip-] Pronunciation Key, diph·thon·gic, diph·thon·gous, adjective
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
diph·thong       (dĭf'thông', -thŏng', dĭp'-)  Pronunciation Key 
n.   A complex speech sound or glide that begins with one vowel and gradually changes to another vowel within the same syllable, as (oi) in boil or (ī) in fine.


[Middle English diptonge, from Old French diptongue, from Late Latin diphthongus, from Greek diphthongos : di-, two; see di-1 + phthongos, sound.]

diph·thon'gal adj.
Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
diphthong 
1483, from M.Fr., from L.L., from Gk. diphthongos, from di- "double" + phthongos "sound, voice," related to phthengesthai "utter, speak loudly."

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This
diphthong

noun
a vowel sound that starts near the articulatory position for one vowel and moves toward the position for another 

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Diphthong

Diph"thong\ (?; 115, 277), n. [L. diphthongus, Gr. ?; di- = di`s- twice + ? voice, sound, fr. ? to utter a sound: cf. F. diphthongue.] (Ortho["e]py) (a) A coalition or union of two vowel sounds pronounced in one syllable; as, ou in out, oi in noise; -- called a proper diphthong. (b) A vowel digraph; a union of two vowels in the same syllable, only one of them being sounded; as, ai in rain, eo in people; -- called an improper diphthong.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Diphthong

Diph"thong\, v. t. To form or pronounce as a diphthong; diphthongize. [R.]

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