Which term refers to a word that imitates a sound?

Which term refers to a word that imitates a sound?

• A. Imagery
• B. Onomatopoeia
• C. Repetition
• D. Alliteration

Answer: (B)

Onomatopoeia is a word that imitates a sound. When a writer uses words like buzz, bang, hiss, or splash, they are employing onomatopoeia to mirror the actual noise. This helps you hear the noise in your head and makes the scene feel more real. Imagery is the broader use of descriptive language that appeals to the senses, and onomatopoeia is a specific device within imagery that uses sound-imitating words. It’s different from repetition, which repeats words or sounds for rhythm, and from alliteration, which repeats initial consonant sounds in nearby words. The key idea is that the word itself mimics a real sound.

Onomatopoeia is a word that imitates a sound. When a writer uses words like buzz, bang, hiss, or splash, they are employing onomatopoeia to mirror the actual noise. This helps you hear the noise in your head and makes the scene feel more real. Imagery is the broader use of descriptive language that appeals to the senses, and onomatopoeia is a specific device within imagery that uses sound-imitating words. It’s different from repetition, which repeats words or sounds for rhythm, and from alliteration, which repeats initial consonant sounds in nearby words. The key idea is that the word itself mimics a real sound.