Onomatopoeia is the formation or use of words that imitate the sounds they refer to, like 'buzz' or 'murmur'.
Onomatopoeia is the formation or use of words that imitate the sounds they refer to, like 'buzz' or 'murmur'.
| Front | onomatopoeia \on-uh-mat-uh-PEE-uh\ |
|---|---|
| Back | noun The formation or use of words such as buzz or murmur that imitate the sounds associated with the objects or actions they refer to. [Late Latin, from Greek onomatopoiia, from onomatopoios, coiner of names : onoma, onomat-, name + poiein, to make.] "I couldn't say the `f' word for a while. I would explain the situation and not say the word. It is one of those words that sounds like what it is. I think that is called onomatopoeia. Fired is a harsh cutting word." - Linney, Barbara J., Rising from the ashes: the aftermath of being fired. Physician Executive, 1 Mar 1996. |
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