ALLITERATION

noun \ - li-t - r -sh n\

Definition of ALLITERATION
: the repetition of usually initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words or syllables (as wild and woolly, threatening throngs) called also head rhyme, initial rhyme See alliteration defined for English-language learners See alliteration defined for kids

Examples of ALLITERATION
1. As far as sound repetition goes, I don't have any principles. I try to stay away from heavy alliteration and other pyrotechnics because I think they detract from the sense of the poem and blur the imagery. Maxine Kumin, A Questionnaire, 1977, in To Make a Prairie, 1979 2. More specifically, how are actual events deformed by the application to them of metaphor, rhetorical comparison, prose rhythm, assonance, alliteration, allusion, and sentence structures and connectives implying clear causality? Paul Fussel, The Great War and Modern Memory, 1975 3. [+]more[-]hide

Origin of ALLITERATION
ad- + Latin littera letter First Known Use: circa 1624

Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms

ABLAUT, ALLUSION, ANACOLUTHON, DIACRITIC, GERUND, IDIOM, INFINITIVE, METAPHOR, SEMIOTICS, SIMILE

Rhymes with ALLITERATION

ABBREVIATION, ABOMINATION, ACCELERATION, ACCENTUATION, ACCOMMODATION, ACCREDITATION, ACCULTURATION, ACCUMULATION, ACTUALIZATION, ADJUDICAT...

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Learn More About ALLITERATION

SPANISH-ENGLISH D ICTIONARY: T RANSLATION OF "ALLITERATION" BRITANNICA.COM: ENCYCLOPEDIA ARTICLE ABOUT "ALLITERATION "

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Alliteration by Louise When writers use two or more words together that have the same beginning sounds, they are using alliteration.

Poets especially like to use alliteration because it adds sound quality to their poems, but you too can use alliteration occasionally in your paragraphs or essays to add freshness and style. Be careful of using too many because it can distract your reader from your ideas. Here are some examples of alliteration: John received a brilliant, blue bird for his birthday. The four firefighters rushed to find the victims in the burning house. She picked up the plump peach. The solitary child sang a song. Dancing delicately, Don ushered in the dawn of a new day.

Here are some silly tongue twisters using alliteration: Angela Abigail Applewhite ate anchovies and artichokes. Bertha Bartholomew blew big, blue bubbles. Clever Clifford Cutter clumsily closed the closet clasps. Dwayne Doodle drew a drawing of dreaded Dracula. Elmer Elwood eluded eleven elderly elephants. Floyd Flingle flipped flat flapjacks.

Now, underline the alliteration in the following sentences: 1. Puny panthers pit their skills against zebras. 2. Pretty Petunia picked peaches for preserves.

3. Handsome Howard hired hundreds of hippos for the holidays.

Now its your turn. Try writing 5 sentences using alliteration. Try some serious ones and some funny ones like the tongue twisters. Show them to your teacher for feedback. Good luck.