English Vocabulary in Use Upper-intermediate (Unit 81: Onomatopoeic words)
Onomatopoeic words are those which seem to sound like their meaning. The most obvious examples are verbs for the noises which animals make.
Certain combinations of sounds have particular associations in English.
She was groaning with pain.
[make a deep sound forced out by pain or despair]
Everyone was grumbling about the food.
[complain in a bad-tempered way]
Don't be so grumpy!
[bad-tempered]
The teacher growled angrily.
[make a deep, threatening sound]
Click on 'log in' to enter.
[make a short sharp sound]
There was a loud clang.
[make a loud ringing noise]
Horses go clip-clop on the road.
She splashed water over her face.
[cause liquid to fly about]
She spat it out.
[send liquid/food from mouth]
I never use hair sprays.
He sprinkled sugar on his cereal.
[scatter small drops]
Water was spurting out.
[come out in a sudden burst]
He whistled and the horse ran.
[high-pitched noise from air]
An insect whizzed over my head.
[sound of rushing through air]
He wheezed climbing stairs.
[breathe noisily with whistling]
smash [break violently]
dash [move fast]
crash [strike violently]
bash [strike heavily]
mash [make soft by crushing]
gash [a long deep cut]
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