The noun onomatopoeia is thought to has been first used in around 1577 AD. According to the Oxford Dictionary, the word onomatopoeia originates from the Greek word onomatopoiia meaning 'word-making'. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary reports the onomatopoiia is derived from the Greek onoma 'name' and poiein 'to make'.
Examples:
achoo—used to represent the sound of a sneeze
ahem—used especially to attract attention or to express disapproval or embarrassment
baa-to make the bleat of a sheep
bah—used to express disdain or contempt
bam-a sudden loud noise —often used interjectionally to indicate a sudden impact or occurrence <was fine, then bam, he lost his job>
bang-1: to strike sharply : <banged his knee>
2: to knock, hit, or thrust vigorously often with a sharp noise <banged the door shut>
bark-1 a: to make the characteristic short loud cry of a dog b: to make a noise resembling a bark
2: to speak in a curt loud and usually angry tone : transitive verb
1: to utter in a curt loud usually angry tone <an officer barking orders>
2: to advertise by persistent outcry <barking their wares>
—
bark up the wrong tree
: to promote or follow a mistaken course (as in doing research)
bash-1: to strike violently : ; also : to injure or damage by striking : —often used with in
2: to attack physically or verbally <media bashing> <celebrity bashing>intransitive verb:
bawl-intransitive verb
1 : to cry out loudly and unrestrainedly
2 : to cry loudly :
transitive verb : to cry out at the top of one's voice
beep - : a short usually high-pitched sound (as from a horn or an electronic device) that serves as a signal or warning
blare-intransitive verb : to sound loud and strident <radios blaring>
transitive verb
1 : to sound or utter raucously <sat blaring the car horn>
2 : to proclaim flamboyantly <headlines blared his defeat>
blurt-to utter abruptly and impulsively —usually used with out
bong: the deep resonant sound especially of a bell
bonk: <bonked him over the head>
boo—used to express contempt or disapproval or to startle or frighten
boom-intransitive verb
1: to make a deep hollow sound
2 a: to increase in importance, popularity, or esteem b: to experience a sudden rapid growth and expansion usually with an increase in prices <business was booming> c: to develop rapidly in population and importance <California boomed when gold was discovered there> d: to increase greatly in size or number <the population boomed>transitive verb
1: to cause to resound —often used with out<his voice booms out the lyrics>
2: to cause a rapid growth or increase of :
3: to hit or kick forcefully <boom a punt>
buzz-intransitive verb
1: to make a low continuous humming sound like that of a bee
2 a: , b: to be filled with a confused murmur <the room buzzed with excitement>
3: to make a signal with a buzzer
4: to go quickly : <buzzed around town in a sports car>; also : —usually used with off
5: to feel high especially from a drugtransitive verb
1: to utter covertly by or as if by whispering
2: to cause to buzz
3: to fly fast and close to <planes buzz the crowd>
4: to summon or signal with a buzzer; also : to let in through an electronically controlled entrance —used with in or through<buzzed him in>
5dialect English : to drink to the last drop <get some more port whilst I buzz this bottle — W. M. Thackeray>
chatter-intransitive verb
1: to utter rapid short sounds suggestive of language but inarticulate and indistinct <squirrels chattered angrily>
2: to talk idly, incessantly, or fast
3 a: to click repeatedly or uncontrollably <teeth chattering with cold> b: to vibrate rapidly in cutting <a chattering tool> c: to vibrate especially audibly as a consequence of repeated sticking and slipping <chattering brakes>transitive verb: to utter rapidly, idly, or indistinctly
— chat·ter·er noun
— chat·tery \-tə-rē\ adjective
cheep-1 : to utter faint shrill sounds :
2 : to utter a single word or sound
chirp-intransitive verb : to make a chirp or a sound resembling a chirp
transitive verb : to utter with a cheerful liveliness <she chirped “good morning”>
clang-intransitive verb
1 a: to make a loud metallic ringing sound <anvils clanged> b: to go with a clang
2: to utter the characteristic harsh cry of a birdtransitive verb: to cause to clang <clang a bell>
clank-intransitive verb
1 : to make a clank or series of <the radiator hissed and clanked>
2 : to go with or as if with a clank <tanks clanking through the streets>
transitive verb : to cause to clank
clap-transitive verb
1: to strike (as two flat hard surfaces) together so as to produce a sharp percussive noise
2 a: to strike (the hands) together repeatedly usually in applause b:
3: to strike with the flat of the hand in a friendly way <clapped his friend on the shoulder>
4: to place, put, or set especially energetically <clap him into jail> <since I first clapped eyes on it>
5: to improvise or build hastily <a hut clapped together from old plywood>intransitive verb
1: to produce a percussive sound; especially :
2: to go abruptly or briskly
clatter-intransitive verb
1 : to make a rattling sound <the dishes clattered on the shelf>
2 : to talk noisily or rapidly
3 : to move or go with a clatter <clattered down the stairs>
transitive verb : to cause to clatter
click-transitive verb
1: to strike, move, or produce with a click <clicked his heels together>
2: to select especially in a computer interface by pressing a button on a control device (as a mouse)intransitive verb
1: to make a click
2 a: to fit or agree exactly b: to fit together : hit it off <they did not click as friends> c: to function smoothly d: <a movie that clicks>
3: to select something by —often used with on<click on the icon>
— click·able \ˈkli-kə-bəl\ adjective
clink-intransitive verb : to give out a slight sharp short metallic sound
transitive verb : to cause to clink
cluck-intransitive verb
1 : to make a cluck
2 : to make a clicking sound with the tongue
3 : to express interest or concern <critics clucked over the new developments>
transitive verb
1 : to call with a cluck
2 : to express with interest or concern
clunk-intransitive verb
1 : to make a clunk
2 : to hit something with a clunk
transitive verb : to strike or hit with a clunk
crackle-intransitive verb
1 a: to make small sharp sudden repeated noises <the fire crackles on the hearth> b: to show animation : <the essays crackle with wit>
2: 3transitive verb: to crush or with snapping noises
— crack·ling·ly adverb
crunch-intransitive verb
1: to chew or press with a crushing noise
2: to make one's way with a crushing noisetransitive verb
1: to chew, press, or grind with a sound
2: ; especially : to perform mathematical computations on <crunch numbers>
— crunch·able \ˈkrən-chə-bəl\ adjective
cuckoo-1: a largely grayish-brown European bird (Cuculus canorus) that is a parasite given to laying its eggs in the nests of other birds which hatch them and rear the offspring; broadly : any of a large family (Cuculidae of the order Cuculiformes) to which this bird belongs
2: the call of the cuckoo
3: a silly or slightly crackbrained person
ding-transitive verb : to dwell on with tiresome repetition <keeps dinging it into him that the less he smokes the better — Samuel Butler died 1902>
intransitive verb
1 : to make a ringing sound :
2 : to speak with tiresome reiteration
drip-transitive verb
1: to let fall in drops <a brush dripping paint>
2: to let out or seem to spill copiously <her voice dripping sarcasm> <trees dripping Spanish moss>intransitive verb
1 a: to let fall drops of moisture or liquid <wet clothes dripping onto the floor> b: to overflow with or as if with moisture <stories dripping with pop-culture references> <toast dripping with butter>
2: to fall in or as if in drops <let the excess drip off>
3: to waft or pass gently
— drip·per noun
eek—used to express surprise or dismay
fizz-1 : to make a hissing or sputtering sound :
2 : to show excitement or exhilaration
flick-1 : a light sharp jerky stroke or movement <a flick of the wrist>
2 : a sound produced by a flick
