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onomatopoeia

[ on-uh-mat-uh-pee-uh ] [ ˌɒn əˌmæt əˈpi ə ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

noun

the formation of a word by imitation of a sound made by or associated with its referent.

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Why Dictionary.com chose onomatopoeia

More about onomatopoeia

  • First recorded in 1570–80.
  • Comes via Late Latin, from the Greek word onomatopoiía, which translates as “the making of words.”
  • The word poet shares the same Greek stem that means, “maker.”
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EXAMPLES OF ONOMATOPOEIA

  • The comic book artist skillfully used onomatopoeia in the action scenes, drawing “zap” and “pow” in speech bubbles.
  • In poetry, onomatopoeia adds a vivid and auditory dimension to the words on the page.

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whippersnapper

[ wip-er-snap-er ] [ ˈwɪp ərˌsnæp ər ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

noun

an unimportant but offensively presumptuous person, especially a young one.

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Why Dictionary.com chose whippersnapper

More about whippersnapper

  • First recorded in 1665–75.
  • Most likely a blend of earlier whipster and snippersnapper, which are similar in sense.
  • Both whip and snap entered English centuries before and have Germanic origins.
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EXAMPLES OF WHIPPERSNAPPER

  • The old man scolded the whippersnapper for cutting in line at the grocery store.
  • She chuckled at the antics of the young whippersnapper trying to act all grown up.

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cacophony

[ kuh-kof-uh-nee ] [ kəˈkɒf ə ni ] Show IPA Phonetic Respelling

noun

harsh discordance of sound; dissonance.

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Why Dictionary.com chose cacophony

More about cacophony

  • First recorded in 1650–60.
  • Comes via New Latin cacophonia from Greek kakophōnía, which contains caco– “bad” + –phony “sound.”
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EXAMPLES OF CACOPHONY

  • As the orchestra tuned their instruments, a cacophony of mismatched sounds filled the concert hall.
  • The classroom erupted into a cacophony of laughter and chatter after the bell rang for recess.
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