onomatopoeia Definition

onomatopoeia
noun

1. The formation of words whose sounds imitate the sound or action they represent, eg boo, hiss, squelch.
2. A word formed in this way.
3. rhetoric.
The use, for rhetorical effect, of words whose sounds help to suggest their meaning.

Derivative: onomatopoeic
adj

imitative.

Derivative: onomatopoeically
adverb

Etymology: 16c: Latin, from Greek onomatopoios, from onoma name + poiein to make.