Final answer:
Onomatopoeia refers to words that mimic the sounds of the objects or actions they are describing, such as 'shush,' 'bang,' 'thud,' and 'hiss.'
Step-by-step explanation:
Onomatopoeia is a term used in the English language to describe words that phonetically imitate, resemble, or suggest the source of the sound that they describe. This literary device is commonly used in poetry and prose to bring language to life by appealing to the sense of hearing.
For instance, the word "shush" is an onomatopoeia because it sounds like the very action it's meant to represent. Other classic examples of onomatopoeia include words like bang, thud, and hiss. These words mimic the noises they refer to and enhance the reader's experience by making descriptions more vivid and expressive.