/ ˈtrɪfθɒŋ; ˈtrɪpθɒŋ; NAmE -θɔːŋ/ noun
( phonetics ) a combination of three vowel sounds or vowel letters, for example the sounds /aɪə/ in fire /faɪə(r)/
—compare diphthong , monophthong
► triph·thong·al / trɪfˈθɒŋgl; trɪp-; NAmE ˈθɔːŋgl/ adjective
••
WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: from French triphtongue , from tri- three , on the pattern of diphthong .