ideophone /ˈɪ.di.(j)ə(ʊ)ˌfəʊn/ noun1 •A word that uses sound symbolism to express aspects of events that can be experienced by the senses, like smell, color, shape, sound, action, or movement.In insults the ideophone occurs either in its characteristic position, the verb phrase, or uncharacteristically as a modifier in a noun phrase. — 1969 formsideophones