onomatopoeia

/ˌɑnəˌmætəˈpiːə/
noun
  1. The formation of a word from a sound associated with what it names, such as 'buzz' or 'hiss'.
    • The word 'splash' is a great example of onomatopoeia because it sounds like the noise water makes.
    • In poetry, onomatopoeia helps the reader hear the sounds being described.
    • Comic books use onomatopoeia all the time, with words like 'pow' and 'boom' in action scenes.
  2. A word that sounds like the thing it describes.
    • The word 'murmur' is an onomatopoeia that imitates soft, low speech.
    • She taught her students that 'meow' is an onomatopoeia for the sound a cat makes.
    • 'Click' is an onomatopoeia for the sound of a mouse button.
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