Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Imitative of natural sounds: Describes words that are formed by imitating the actual sound associated with the object or action they refer to.
   • Relating to onomatopoeia: Pertaining to the rhetorical device or linguistic phenomenon of creating words that phonetically imitate sounds.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • The word "buzz" is an onomatopoeic word for the sound a bee makes.
  • Many animal names in different languages are onomatopoeic, like "cuckoo".
  • Poets often use onomatopoeic effects to make their writing more vivid and sensory.

Advanced Usage

• Linguistic Analysis: The term is used in linguistics and literary criticism to analyze how language mimics non-linguistic sounds.
  • The onomatopoeic quality of the phrase "the clanging bells" helps the reader hear the scene.
• Cross-linguistic Study: While some sounds are commonly imitated (e.g., "meow" for a cat), the specific onomatopoeic word can vary between languages.

Variants and Related Words

• Onomatopoeia (noun): The rhetorical device or process of forming such words.
  • The poet's use of onomatopoeia created a lively auditory experience.
• Onomatopoetic (adjective): A less common variant with the same meaning as "onomatopoeic".
  • "Sizzle" is an onomatopoetic term for the sound of frying.

Synonyms

• Imitative: Formed by imitation.
• Echoic: (Linguistics) Denoting a word that imitates a sound.

Related Phrases

• Onomatopoeic word/term: A specific word formed by onomatopoeia.
  • "Splash" is a classic onomatopoeic word for the sound of water.
• Onomatopoeic effect: The sensory impression created by using such words.
  • The comic book relied heavily on onomatopoeic effects like "BAM!" and "POW!".

Adjective

1. (of words) formed in imitation of a natural sound
   • onomatopoeic words are imitative of noises
   • it was independently developed in more than one place as an onomatopoetic term- Harry Hoijer
2. of or relating to or characterized by onomatopoeia