Word of the Day — Thursday, February 26, 2026
onomatopoeia
noun/ˌä-nə-ˌmä-tə-ˈpē-ə/
Definitions
nounthe naming of a thing or action by a vocal imitation of the sound associated with it the creation of words that imitate natural sounds (such as buzz, hiss)
nounthe use of words whose sound suggests the sense
“a study of the poet's onomatopoeia”
Examples
- “a study of the poet's onomatopoeia”
Etymology
Late Latin, from Greek onomatopoiia, from onomat-, onoma name + poiein to make