trigraph

[ trahy-graf, -grahf ]
/ ˈtraɪ græf, -grɑf /

noun

a group of three letters representing a single speech sound, as eau in beau.

Origin of trigraph

First recorded in 1830–40; tri- + -graph

OTHER WORDS FROM trigraph

tri·graph·ic [trahy-graf-ik] /traɪˈgræf ɪk/, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for trigraph

British Dictionary definitions for trigraph

trigraph
/ (ˈtraɪˌɡrɑːf, -ˌɡræf) /

noun

a combination of three letters used to represent a single speech sound or phoneme, such as eau in French beau

Derived forms of trigraph

trigraphic (traɪˈɡræfɪk), adjective