onomatopoeia
[ on-uh-mat-uh-pee-uh, ‐mah-tuh‐ ]
/ ˌɒn əˌmæt əˈpi ə, ‐ˌmɑ tə‐ /
noun
the formation of a word, as cuckoo, meow, honk, or boom, by imitation of a sound made by or associated with its referent.
a word so formed.
the use of imitative and naturally suggestive words for rhetorical, dramatic, or poetic effect.
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Origin of onomatopoeia
OTHER WORDS FROM onomatopoeia
on·o·mat·o·poe·ic, on·o·mat·o·po·et·ic [on-uh-mat-uh-poh-et-ik] /ˌɒn əˌmæt ə poʊˈɛt ɪk/, adjective on·o·mat·o·poe·i·cal·ly, on·o·mat·o·po·et·i·cal·ly, adverbWords nearby onomatopoeia
onomasticon,
onomastics,
onomatology,
onomatomania,
onomatophobia,
onomatopoeia,
onondaga,
onondagan,
onr,
onrush,
ons
Example sentences from the Web for onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia, formations of words resembling in sound that of the things denoted by them.
The Nuttall Encyclopaedia |Edited by Rev. James WoodMao, the term for a "cat," is obviously an example of onomatopoeia.
China and the Chinese |Herbert Allen GilesAll words which were spontaneously acquired seemed to be instances of onomatopoeia.
British Dictionary definitions for onomatopoeia
onomatopoeia
/ (ˌɒnəˌmætəˈpiːə) /
noun
the formation of words whose sound is imitative of the sound of the noise or action designated, such as hiss, buzz, and bang
the use of such words for poetic or rhetorical effect
Derived forms of onomatopoeia
onomatopoeic or onomatopoetic (ˌɒnəˌmætəpəʊˈɛtɪk), adjective onomatopoeically or onomatopoetically, adverbWord Origin for onomatopoeia
C16: via Late Latin from Greek
onoma name +
poiein to make