Definition of: onomatopoeia

(on′ə·mat′ə·pē′ə, ō·nom′ə·tə-) noun
1. The formation of words in imitation of natural sounds, as crack, splash, or bow-wow.
2. An imitative word.
3. The selection and use of such words. Also on′o·mat′o·po·e′sis (-pō·ē′sis), on′o·mat′o·py (-mat′ə·pē). [<L <Gk. onomatopoiia the making of words <onoma, -atos name + poieein make]
—on′o·mat′o·poe′ic or ·i·cal, on′o·mat′o·po·et′ic (-pō·et′ik) adjective
—on′o·mat′o·po·et′i·cal·ly adverb