Definitions

1. noun

A vowel sound or combination of vowel sounds in a word, especially in Greek or Latin, that is pronounced as a single syllable and consists of three vowel sounds or diphthongs.

“The linguist studied the complex triphthong in the ancient Greek word “eurysalerphos”.”

2. noun

A vowel sound that is pronounced as a long, flowing sound consisting of three vowel sounds.

“The poet used the musical quality of the triphthong to create a soothing effect in her poem.”

3. noun

In phonetics, a sequence of three adjacent vowels pronounced as a single vowel sound.

“The phonetician analyzed the triphthong in the English word “boil”.”