syneresis

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

syneresis
    n 1: the contraction of two vowels into a diphthong [syn:
         {syneresis}, {synaeresis}]
    2: the separation of liquid from a gel that is caused by
       contraction (as in cheese making) [syn: {syneresis},
       {synaeresis}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Synaeresis \Syn*aer"e*sis\, Syneresis \Syn*er"e*sis\, n. [NL.,
   fr. Gr. ? a taking or drawing together, fr. ? to take
   together; sy`n with + ? to take, to grasp. See {Syn-}, and
   {Heresy}.] (Gram.)
   The union, or drawing together into one syllable, of two
   vowels that are ordinarily separated in syllabification;
   synecphonesis; -- the opposite of diaeresis.
   [1913 Webster]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Syneresis \Syn*er"e*sis\, n.
   Same as {Synaeresis}.
   [1913 Webster]

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