lifemaintaining
Syllables
life-main-tain-ing
Pronunciation
/ˌlaɪfˈmeɪn.teɪ.nɪŋ/
Stress
0101
Morphemes
life + main + tain-ing
The word 'life-maintaining' is divided into four syllables: life-main-tain-ing. Stress falls on 'tain'. It's morphologically complex, comprising a prefix, root, and suffixes. Syllabification follows standard English rules based on vowel-consonant patterns.
Definitions
- 1
Capable of sustaining life; providing the conditions necessary for life to continue.
“The life-maintaining equipment was crucial for the patient's survival.”
“The organization provides life-maintaining resources to those in need.”
Stress pattern
Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('tain'). The stress pattern is typical for words ending in '-ing' where the preceding syllable carries the main stress.
Syllables
life — Open syllable, vowel followed by a consonant.. main — Closed syllable, vowel followed by a consonant cluster.. tain — Closed syllable, vowel followed by a consonant cluster.. ing — Closed syllable, vowel followed by a nasal consonant cluster.
Word Parts
Similar Words
Open Syllable
A syllable ending in a vowel sound is considered open (e.g., 'life').
Closed Syllable
A syllable ending in a consonant sound is considered closed (e.g., 'main', 'tain', 'ing').
- The hyphen in 'life-maintaining' is a morphological marker and doesn't necessarily dictate a strong syllable break in pronunciation.
- Regional variations in vowel quality may occur, but do not significantly alter syllable division.
Nearby Words
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