Poem

/poʊ.əm/

Meaning & Definition

noun
A piece of writing that expresses emotions, experiences, and ideas, often using rhythm, meter, and various literary devices.
She wrote a beautiful poem about the changing seasons.
A literary work that is often structured in verses and stanzas.
The anthology contains a diverse collection of classic poems.
Any creative work that has a poetic nature or qualities.
His speech was like a poem, full of vivid imagery and emotion.

Etymology

Derived from Old French 'poeme', which comes from Latin 'poema', from Greek 'poieman', meaning 'to create'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

blank verse
Poetry that does not rhyme but has a regular meter.
epic poem
A lengthy narrative poem typically detailing heroic deeds.
spoken word
A performance genre that focuses on wordplay and storytelling.

Related Words

poet
A person who composes poems.
versification
The art of composing poems and understanding meter.
stanza
A grouped set of lines within a poem, analogous to a paragraph in prose.

Slang Meanings

Wordsmithing
He’s serious about his wordsmithing; every poem has to be just right.
Rhymes
Check out my latest rhymes; they're more than just a poem.