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onomatopoeic

 - 3 dictionary results

on⋅o⋅mat⋅o⋅poe⋅ia

  [on-uh-mat-uh-pee-uh, ‑mah-tuh‑]
Use onomatopoeic in a Sentence
–noun
1. the formation of a word, as cuckoo or boom, by imitation of a sound made by or associated with its referent.
2. a word so formed.
3. Rhetoric. the use of imitative and naturally suggestive words for rhetorical effect.
Origin:
1570–80; < LL < Gk onomatopoiía making of words = onomato- (comb. form of ónoma name ) + poi- (s. of poieîn to make; see poet ) + -ia -ia

Related forms:
on⋅o⋅mat⋅o⋅poe⋅ic, on⋅o⋅mat⋅o⋅po⋅et⋅ic  [on-uh-mat-uh-poh-et-ik] , adjective
on⋅o⋅mat⋅o⋅poe⋅i⋅cal⋅ly, on⋅o⋅mat⋅o⋅po⋅et⋅i⋅cal⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To onomatopoeic
on·o·mat·o·poe·ia   (ŏn'ə-māt'ə-pē'ə, -mä'tə-)   
n.  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 onomatopoiiā, from onomatopoios, coiner of names : onoma, onomat-, name; see n-men- in Indo-European roots + poiein, to make; see kwei-2 in Indo-European roots.]
on'o·mat'o·poe'ic, on'o·mat'o·po·et'ic (-pō-ět'ĭk) adj., on'o·mat'o·poe'i·cal·ly, on'o·mat'o·po·et'i·cal·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

onomatopoeia 
1577, from L.L., from Gk. onomatopoiia "the making of a name or word" (in imitation of a sound associated with the thing being named), from onomatopoios, from onoma (gen. onomatos) "word, name" (see name) + a derivative of poiein "compose, make" (see poet).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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