monophthong

[ mon-uh f-thawng, -thong ]
/ ˈmɒn əfˌθɔŋ, -ˌθɒŋ /

noun Phonetics.

a vowel retaining the same quality throughout its duration.
Compare diphthong.

Origin of monophthong

1610–20; < Greek monóphthongos equivalent to mono- mono- + phthóngos sound

OTHER WORDS FROM monophthong

mon·oph·thon·gal [mon-uh f-thawng-guh l, -thong-] /ˈmɒn əfˌθɔŋ gəl, -ˌθɒŋ-/, adjective

Words nearby monophthong

monophobia, monophonic, monophony, monophosphate, monophthalmos, monophthong, monophthongize, monophyletic, monophyllous, monophysite, monoplane

British Dictionary definitions for monophthong

monophthong
/ (ˈmɒnəfˌθɒŋ) /

noun

a simple or pure vowel

Derived forms of monophthong

monophthongal (ˌmɒnəfˈθɒŋɡəl), adjective

Word Origin for monophthong

C17: from Greek monophthongos, from mono- + thongos sound