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The noun onomatopoeia describes a word derived from a natural sound to which the word refers. The meaning from Latin is "to make names." It is what it is called when someone uses a word that imitates or suggests the source of the sound they are describing. Common occurrences include animal noises, such as "oink," "meow" or "roar".

Onomatopoeic words imitate the sound they represent. Or they suggest the source of the sound they are describing. For example, the adjective zap describes the sound made by lightning. The word SPLASH sounds like a splash.

Other examples include: bang, boom, hiss, pop, pow, puff, snarl.

The adjective imitative means the same as onomatopoeic and the two terms are used interchangeably. Imitative is considered by some to be a more accessible term describing the same concept.

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9y ago

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