A word that imitates the sound it represents.

A word that imitates the sound it represents.

• A. Onomatopoeia
• B. Alliteration
• C. Hyperbole
• D. Metaphor

Answer: (A)

Onomatopoeia describes a word that imitates the sound it represents. When you read words like “buzz,” “hiss,” or “clang,” you can almost hear the sound because the word itself mirrors how it sounds. This is different from other sound devices: alliteration repeats initial sounds in a group of words (like “silly seashells”), hyperbole is an exaggeration, and metaphor makes a direct comparison without using like or as. So, the term that fits the clue—a word that imitates the sound it represents—is onomatopoeia.

Onomatopoeia describes a word that imitates the sound it represents. When you read words like “buzz,” “hiss,” or “clang,” you can almost hear the sound because the word itself mirrors how it sounds. This is different from other sound devices: alliteration repeats initial sounds in a group of words (like “silly seashells”), hyperbole is an exaggeration, and metaphor makes a direct comparison without using like or as. So, the term that fits the clue—a word that imitates the sound it represents—is onomatopoeia.