poem

American  

[poh-uhm] / ˈpoʊ əm /

noun

1. a composition in verse, especially one that is characterized by a highly developed artistic form and by the use of heightened language and rhythm to express an intensely imaginative interpretation of the subject.

2. composition that, though not in verse, is characterized by great beauty of language or expression.

   a prose poem from the Scriptures; a symphonic poem.

3. something having qualities that are suggestive of or likened to those of poetry.

   Marcel, that chicken cacciatore was an absolute poem.

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poem British  

/ ˈpəʊɪm /

noun

1. a composition in verse, usually characterized by concentrated and heightened language in which words are chosen for their sound and suggestive power as well as for their sense, and using such techniques as metre, rhyme, and alliteration

2. a literary composition that is not in verse but exhibits the intensity of imagination and language common to it

   a prose poem

3. anything resembling a poem in beauty, effect, etc

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Etymology

Origin of poem

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin poēma, from Greek poíēma “poem, something made,” from poiē- (variant stem of poieîn “to make”) + -ma, noun suffix

Example Sentences

Others, knowing Good had been a poet, wrote poems of their own:

From Los Angeles Times

For Ms. Back, teaching literature was a performance, in which she stood before the classroom and marveled at “the glorious metaphor, the heartbreaking image, the joy-inspiring music of the poem.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Sadako leaned against her mother and listened to her read from a book of poems.

From Literature

Even so, Jeremy whispered the hatching poem to himself as he crawled into bed, repeating it until he was sure he had it memorized.

From Literature

Ancient stories, poems, and songs may hold clues to how vast savannas and grasslands formed and endured across the region.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• ballad
• composition
• epic
• lyric
• poetry
• rhyme
• sonnet
• verse
• writing