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

• uniambic
  adjective
• iambically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of iambic

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

Explanation

An iambic line of prose or poetry is one that consists of iambs. Got it? No, well let's try: an iamb is two consecutive syllables where the first is unstressed, the second stresed, as in "de-DUM." It's that simple. What do you get if you put five iambs together? No, it's not a joke, it's iambic pentameter (penta from the Greek for "five") as in: "de-DUM, de-DUM, de-DUM, de-DUM, de-DUM." It sounds better as: "If MU-/-sic BE / the FOOD / of LOVE,/ play ON." Now that's poetry. If iambic pentameter was good enough for Shakespeare, Milton, and Donne, then maybe you should give it a try.

Example Sentences

Iambic hexameter verse is integrated with rap-style couplets.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 25, 2013

“The best first-act finale since Attila the Hun in Iambic Pentameter. Now, shall we purchase some snacks?”

From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood

But if you please let there be a Tribrach in the first Place, a lau is a Spondee, d'inveni a Dactyl, as et a a Dactyl, micos a Spondee, pares an Iambic.

From Colloquies of Erasmus, Volume I. by Erasmus, Desiderius

Iambic poetry can express the personal feeling of the poet with greater intensity than elegy does; on the other hand, it has not the lyric flexibility, self-abandonment or glow.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 5 "Greek Law" to "Ground-Squirrel" by Various

Iambic pentameter, in which Milton's "Paradise Lost," much of Pope's poetry, Shakespeare's dramas, and, indeed, a large proportion of English verse, are written, is called heroic measure.

From Elementary Guide to Literary Criticism by Painter, F. V. N. (Franklin Verzelius Newton)