poem

[poh-uhm]

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.

poem

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of poem¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of poem¹

C16: from Latin poēma, from Greek, variant of poiēma something composed, created, from poiein to make

Example Sentences

Longfellow ended his poem on a confident note, declaring that, “borne on the night-wind of the Past, through all our history, to the last,” Americans would “waken and listen” to Revere’s “midnight message.”

From Salon

The King was shown many personal items belonging to Newman and showed close interest in an original handwritten copy of the score of Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius, which was based on a Newman poem.

From BBC

In 2119, with Great Britain transformed into an archipelago by rising tides, a humanities professor named Thomas Metcalfe tries to solve the mystery of a lost poem.

From Los Angeles Times

The technique helped the teenager recite the poem for his GCSEs.

From BBC

John’s wistful, symphonic poem suddenly took on a new shade.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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