iambic

American  

[ahy-am-bik] / aɪˈæm bɪk /

adjective

1. Prosody.

   1. pertaining to the iamb.

   2. consisting of or employing an iamb or iambs.

2. Greek Literature. noting or pertaining to satirical poetry written in iambs.

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noun

1. Prosody.

   1. an iamb.

   2. Usually iambics. a verse or poem consisting of iambs.

2. Greek Literature. a satirical poem in this meter.

iambic British  

/ aɪˈæmbɪk /

adjective

1. of, relating to, consisting of, or using an iamb or iambs

2. (in Greek literature) denoting a type of satirical verse written in iambs

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noun

1. a metrical foot, line, or stanza of verse consisting of iambs

2. a type of ancient Greek satirical verse written in iambs

Other Word Forms

• iambically adverb
• uniambic adjective

Etymology

Origin of iambic

1565–75; < Latin iambicus < Greek iambikós. See iambus, -ic

Example Sentences

At the same time, there is a sort of Shakespearean lilt to much of of it; many lines, in my random examination, resolve into iambic pentameter.

From Los Angeles Times

North of Copenhagen is the city of Elsinore, home to the castle where Hamlet takes place, with its wandering ghosts, ill-advised eavesdropping behind the drapes, conversations with skulls, and deadly duels in iambic pentameter.

From Literature

“Well done! You are natural-born poets, each and every one of you. Of course, iambic pentameter should not be confused with anapestic tetrameter, as I am sure you already know. Would anyone care to demonstrate?”

From Literature

The tone of “Memnon,” written in iambic hexameter, is direct, spare and cast in a tense of tragic inevitability.

From Los Angeles Times

"This is the biggest mountain because I was always worried about the iambic pentameter, about blank verse, and not being trained as an actor," he says.

From BBC