syneresis

[ si-ner-uh-sis ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

synaeresis.
Physical Chemistry. the contraction of a gel accompanied by the exudation of liquid.

syneresis

/ sɪˈnɪərɪsɪs /

chem the process in which a gel contracts on standing and exudes liquid, as in the separation of whey in cheese-making
the contraction of two vowels into a diphthong
another word for synizesis

First recorded in 1570–80; variant of synaeresis

C16: via Late Latin from Greek sunairesis a shortening, from sunairein to draw together, from syn- + hairein to take

Note that the union of vowels in separate words is called synalepha, while the union of vowels within a word is called syneresis.

Syneresis, Synresis, si-ner′e-sis, n. the coalescence of two vowels or syllables—opp.

But synalepha may occur in combinations of vowels in which syneresis would be impossible.

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