trimeter

American  

[trim-i-ter] / ˈtrɪm ɪ tər /

noun

1. a verse of three measures or feet.

---

adjective

1. consisting of three measures or feet.

2. Classical Prosody.  composed of six feet or three dipodies.

trimeter British  

/ ˈtrɪmɪtə /

noun

1. a verse line consisting of three metrical feet

---

adjective

1. designating such a line

Etymology

Origin of trimeter

1560–70; < Latin trimetrus having three measures < Greek trímetros. See tri-, meter ²

Example Sentences

This is a variant on ballad measure, which is to say the stanza rhymes abcb and alternates tetrameter and trimeter phrasings.

From New York Times

But Wiman’s deceptively retrograde rhyme scheme conspires to move the reader to a conclusion that’s all the more harrowing for being set in sing-song trimeter.

From Slate

There is a hint of meter here—the second line can be scanned as iambic trimeter, and the last line of my selection, “Into the chamber behind the thought,” ends with two dactyls and two iambs.

From Salon

Clare has added an extra beat to the usual trimeter of the "b" line, allowing himself a little more space for observation.

From The Guardian

Trimeter, trim′e-tėr, n. a division of a verse consisting of three measures.—adjs.

From Project Gutenberg