onomatopoeia
the formation of a word that phonetically imitates the sound it describes
Word origin: From Greek onoma, name, and poiein, to make.
Onomatopoeia in a sentence
Here are example sentences showing onomatopoeia in a sentence.
Words like buzz and sizzle are classic examples of onomatopoeia.
The poem leans heavily on onomatopoeia, its buzz and hiss reproducing the sounds of the summer marsh.
None listed.
Using “onomatopoeia” well
Onomatopoeia is the formation of words that imitate the sounds they denote, such as crackle or thud. It is a device of sound, distinct from figures of meaning like metaphor.
More GRE words starting with O
a stupid, clumsy, or boorish person
stubbornly refusing to change one's mind or course of action
a gesture or attitude of deep respect or submission
showing deferential respect or submissive obedience
a tapering stone pillar with a pyramidal top, typically erected as a monument
grossly overweight to a degree that poses a health risk
to make something deliberately unclear or confusing
the act of making something deliberately unclear or confusing
Questions about “onomatopoeia”
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Definitions in isolation do not stick. Sit a free, full-length GRE mock and meet this vocabulary inside real text completion and sentence equivalence questions, with your score and a worked solution for every answer.