First Known Use: circa 1577
Dictionary
onomatopoeia
noun on·o·mato·poe·ia \ˌä-nə-ˌmä-tə-ˈpē-ə, -ˌma-\
: the creation of words that imitate natural sounds
Full Definition of ONOMATOPOEIA
1
: the naming of a thing or action by a vocal imitation of the sound associated with it (as buzz, hiss)
2
: the use of words whose sound suggests the sense
— on·o·mato·poe·ic \-ˈpē-ik\ or on·o·mato·po·et·ic \-pō-ˈe-tik\ adjective
— on·o·mato·poe·i·cal·ly \-ˈpē-ə-k(ə-)lē\ or on·o·mato·po·et·i·cal·ly \-pō-ˈe-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
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Examples of ONOMATOPOEIA
- The term hiccup is an example of onomatopoeia … —Fred Cicetti, Montague Reporter, 6 Mar. 2008
- You might think it was an onomatopoeia of the sound a Frisbee makes as it moves through the air, but the name has been attributed for years to the Frisbie Pie Company of Bridgeport, Conn., which went out of business in 1958. —Mark Danna, Sports Illustrated, 11 May 1987
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Origin of ONOMATOPOEIA
Late Latin, from Greek onomatopoiia, from onomat-, onoma name + poiein to make — more at poet
Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms
ONOMATOPOETIC Defined for Kids
onomatopoeia
noun on·o·mato·poe·ia \ˌä-nə-ˌma-tə-ˈpē-ə\
Definition of ONOMATOPOEIA for Kids
: the forming of a word (as “buzz” or “hiss”) in imitation of a natural sound
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