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onomatopoeia

Pronunciation: /ˌɒnə(ʊ)matəˈpiːə/

Definition of onomatopoeia

noun

[mass noun]
  • the formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named (e.g. cuckoo, sizzle).
  • the use of onomatopoeia for literary effect.

Origin:

late 16th century: via late Latin from Greek onomatopoiia 'word-making', from onoma, onomat- 'name' + -poios 'making' (from poiein 'to make')

Spelling help

The ending of onomatopoeia is spelled -oeia; it comes from Greek onomatopoiia 'word-making'.

onomatopoeia in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of onomatopoeia in the US English dictionary

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