Main Entry: ¹um·laut

Pronunciation: \ˈüm-ˌlau̇t, ˈu̇m-\

Function: noun

Etymology: German, from um- around, transforming + Laut sound

Date: circa 1845

1 a : the change of a vowel (as \ü\ to \ē\ in goose, geese) that is caused by partial assimilation to a succeeding sound or that occurs as a reflex of the former presence of a succeeding sound which has been lost or altered b : a vowel resulting from such partial assimilation
2 : a diacritical mark ¨ placed over a vowel to indicate a more central or front articulation — compare diaeresis