# what is correct spelling & definition for this word
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-correct-spelling-definition-for-this-word/47087
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [December 24, 2000, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-correct-spelling-definition-for-this-word/47087 "2000-12-24T15:44:03Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@divepooch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divepooch)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2000, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-correct-spelling-definition-for-this-word/47087/1 "2000-12-24T15:44:03Z")
The word is pronounced “anomanopia” or close.
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### Author:  [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2000, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-correct-spelling-definition-for-this-word/47087/2 "2000-12-24T15:48:44Z")
Onomatopoeia
It means a word that sounds like the sound it describes. i.e. “ting” “thud” “buzz”, etc.
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### Author:  [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2000, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-correct-spelling-definition-for-this-word/47087/3 "2000-12-24T16:08:21Z")
Like chief said:
Main Entry: on·o·mato·poe·ia
Pronunciation: "ä-n&-"mä-t&-'pE-&, -"ma-
Function: noun
Etymology: Late Latin, from Greek onomatopoiia, from onomat-, onoma name + poiein to make – more at POET
Date: circa 1577
1 : the naming of a thing or action by a vocal imitation of the sound associated with it (as buzz, hiss)
2 : the use of words whose sound suggests the sense
- on·o·mato·poe·ic /-'pE-ik/ or on·o·mato·po·et·ic /-pO-'e-tik/ adjective
- on·o·mato·poe·i·cal·ly /-'pE-&-k(&-)lE/ or on·o·mato·po·et·i·cal·ly /-pO-'e-ti-k(&-)lE/ adverb
online dictionaries are real easy to use, even if you don’t know the correct spelling. Try it sometime! It’s fun!
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### Author:  [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2000, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-correct-spelling-definition-for-this-word/47087/4 "2000-12-24T16:13:59Z")
Qadgop, I know you use a lot of dictionary quotations but I think you really should keep the copyright notice in your postings, it’s at the bottom of the quote that the dictionary gives. At least mine does.
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### Author:  [@divepooch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divepooch)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2000, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-correct-spelling-definition-for-this-word/47087/5 "2000-12-24T17:13:04Z")
Thank you all very much.Happy hollidays
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### Author:  [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2000, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-correct-spelling-definition-for-this-word/47087/6 "2000-12-24T17:24:25Z")
Come on now, **divepooch** , the least you could do is us an onomatopoetic word in your thank you!
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### Author:  [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2000, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-correct-spelling-definition-for-this-word/47087/7 "2000-12-24T18:55:58Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by handy \*
> \*\*Qadgop, I know you use a lot of dictionary quotations but I think you really should keep the copyright notice in your postings, it’s at the bottom of the quote that the dictionary gives. At least mine does. \*\*
Hmm, I seem to have omitted it. Have to be more careful. thanks
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### Author:  [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)
#### Post date: [December 24, 2000, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-correct-spelling-definition-for-this-word/47087/8 "2000-12-24T20:28:29Z")
Todd Rundgren had a hilarious novelty song called “Onomatopoeia” – every time he said an onomatopoeic word, he inserted the sound itself on top of the word. The guy loves to play with the recording studio.
Onomatopoeia
every time I see ya
My senses tell me hubba
And I just can’t disagree-a
I get a feeling in my heart that I can’t describe
It’s sort of lub dub, lub dub
A sound in my head that I can’t describe
It’s sort of zoom, zip, hiccup, drip
Ding, dong, crunch, crack, bark, meow, whinnie, quack yeah
Onomatopoeia in proximity ya
Rearrange my brain in a strange cacophony-a
I get a feeling somewhere that I can’t describe
It’s sort of uh uh, uh uh
A sound in my head that I can’t describe
It’s sort of whack, whir, wheeze, whine
Sputter, splat, squirt, scrape
Clink, clank, clunk, clatter
Crash, bang, beep, buzz
Ring, rip, roar, retch
Twang, toot, tinkle, thud
Pop, plop, plunk, pow
Snort, snuk, sniff, smack
Screech, splash, squish, squeek
Jingle, rattle, squeel, boing
Honk, hoot, hack, belch yeah oh yeah oh yeah