Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
onomatopoeia
Noun
/ˌɒnəˌmætəˈpiːə/
Definition
The use of words that imitate the natural sounds associated with the objects or actions they refer to.
Examples
- The word ‘buzz’ mimics the sound of bees.
- In comic books, ‘bang’ and ‘pow’ illustrate action sounds.
- Children love words like ‘sizzle’ that evoke sound imagery.
Meaning
Onomatopoeia refers to a word that sounds like what it describes. It’s a way of using sound to convey meaning.
Synonyms
- Sound imitation
- Phonetic symbolism
- Echoic word
