ˌaɪdiəˈfoʊn

Definitions

1. noun

a word that phonetically imitates, resembles or suggests the sound which it describes, such as ‘buzz’, ‘meow’, or ‘splash’

“The language of the indigenous tribe was rich in ideophones, which helped to paint vivid pictures in the listeners’ minds.”

2. noun

a word that represents a particular sound, such as a musical instrument or a natural phenomenon

“The fireworks produced a variety of ideophones, including the loud boom of the explosion and the soft whoosh of the sparks.”

3. noun

a word that evokes a particular sensory experience, such as a tactile or olfactory sensation

“The description of the cake’s texture was a mouthwatering ideophone that made everyone’s stomach growl with hunger.”