[ ˌɒnə(ʊ)matə'pi:ə ]
■ noun the formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named (e.g. cuckoo , sizzle ).
↘the use of such words for rhetorical effect.
Derivatives
onomatopoeic adjective
onomatopoeically adverb
Origin
C16: via late L. from Gk onomatopoiia 'word-making', from onoma , onomat- 'name' + -poios 'making'.