Trying to find the definition or origin of the, and I do not know the spelling.  

It sounds like - adomadopia

Can you help?

I believe the word you're looking for is "onomatopoeia," which is
pronounced "On oh mat oh PEE uh."

Onomatopoeia refers to words which sound like the thing they're
describing. Some examples: bang, clang, moo, splat, yelp.

"onˇoˇmatˇoˇpoeˇia...
 
The formation or use of words such as buzz or murmur that imitate the
sounds associated with the objects or actions they refer to."

Dictionary.com

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=2&q=onomatopoeia
Google search strategy:

Google Web Search: onomatopoeia
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=onomatopoeia

If this isn't the correct word, please request clarification; I'll be
glad to offer further assistance before you rate my answer.

Best wishes,
pinkfreud

---

Clarification of Answer by pinkfreud-ga on 14 Jun 2004 16:35 PDT

If you'd like to know more about the origin of the word
"onomatopoeia," this may interest you:

"onomatopoeia - 1577, from L.L., from Gk. onomatopoiia 'the making of
a name or word' (in imitation of a sound associated with the thing
being named), from onomatopoios, from onoma (gen. onomatos) 'word,
name' + a derivative of poiein 'compose, make' (see poet)."

Etymology Online
http://www.etymonline.com/o2etym.htm

Thank you for such a quick and thorough answer.  I was so far off on
the spelling, that I am very embaressed!

Thank you very much for the five stars and the generous tip!

There's no need to be embarrassed about not knowing how to spell this
word. It isn't spelled the way most people would expect. Many years
ago, when I first heard the word pronounced, I thought that it started
with "auto" rather than "ono." And never in a million years would I
have guessed that the "pee uh" part would be spelled "poeia."

~pinkfreud