onomatopoeia
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.
Origin of onomatopoeia
1Other 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, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use onomatopoeia in a sentence
The “boom” of a cannon (note of a bell, cry of the bittern) is distinct from this, being onomatopoeic.
In the vernacular the point is brought out by the onomatopoeic character of the lines, which cannot be rendered in English.
The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India | R. V. RussellThe English word may be of native origin and merely onomatopoeic.
With onomatopoeic effects it gives a vivid if unfriendly picture of a blacksmith's forge on a busy night.
Fourteenth Century Verse & Prose | VariousIn Language, its Origin and Development , he upholds the onomatopoeic theory.
British Dictionary definitions for onomatopoeia
/ (ˌɒnəˌmætəˈpiːə) /
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
Origin of onomatopoeia
1Derived forms of onomatopoeia
- onomatopoeic or onomatopoetic (ˌɒnəˌmætəpəʊˈɛtɪk), adjective
- onomatopoeically or onomatopoetically, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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