Synaeresis
WordNet
noun
(1) The separation of liquid from a gel that is caused by contraction (as in cheese making)
(2) The contraction of two vowels into a diphthong
WiktionaryText
Etymology
From < + < .
Noun
- the contraction of two vowels into a diphthong or a long vowel.
- An example of synaeresis is the contraction of the -ew (/uː/) and or- (/oʊɹ/) of New Orleans into /nɔːlənz/.
- the separating out of the liquid from a gel.