- Today's Word
Onomatopoeia
[on-uh-mat-uh-PEE-uh]
Definition
- (noun) Words that phonetically imitate, resemble, or suggest the sound they describe. These are words that sound like what they mean, creating a sound effect that mimics the actual sound.
Example
The comic book was filled with onomatopoeia, with “boom,” “crash,” and “pow” bringing the action scenes to life through vivid sound effects.
Fun Fact
The word “onomatopoeia” itself is not an onomatopoeia. It comes from the Greek words “onoma” (name) and “poiein” (to make), literally meaning “the making of a name (or sound).” Interestingly, many onomatopoeic words differ across languages, reflecting how different cultures interpret and represent sounds.
(adjective) Having many varied parts, aspects, or forms.
The festival featured a multifarious mix of music, art, and food from all over the world.
From Latin multifarius, meaning “in many places” or “of many kinds,” from multus (“many”).