The union, or drawing together into one syllable, of two vowels that are ordinarily separated in syllabification; synecphonesis; the opposite of diæresis
the drawing together of two consecutive vowels or syllables into a single syllable, as the formation of a diphthong Same as "synaeresis " See also: diphthong
{i} (Linguistics) contraction of two consecutive vowels into one syllable (especially to form a diphthong)