ENGLISH
REFERENCE

limerick

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈɫɪmɝɪk// UK //lˈɪməɹˌɪk// lim·er·ick

n. a short, funny poem that has five lines. The first, second, and fifth lines rhyme with each other, while the third and fourth lines are shorter and have their own rhyme.

n. a form of humorous verse consisting of five lines with an AABBA rhyme scheme. The third and fourth lines are typically shorter than the others, and the rhythm is usually anapestic.


SIMPLE

He wrote a funny limerick about a man from France.

CONTEXTUAL

During the talent show, the student recited a clever limerick that made the entire audience laugh.

COMPLEX

While often associated with nursery rhymes or lighthearted wordplay, the limerick has also been used by serious poets to demonstrate technical mastery within a rigid, rhythmic structure.

Origin

Anglicized form of Irish Luimneach.

Usage

Commonly follows the naming convention 'There once was a... from...' in its opening line.

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