ENGLISH
REFERENCE

poem

n. countable
B1 Intermediate Oxford US //ˈpoʊəm// UK //pˈəʊɪm// po·em General-service

n. a piece of writing that uses beautiful or rhythmic language to share feelings and ideas. It is often written in short lines and sometimes uses words that rhyme.

n. a literary composition characterized by the use of figurative language, rhythm, and often rhyme to convey emotional or aesthetic experiences. Typically structured in stanzas rather than continuous prose.


SIMPLE

She wrote a short poem about the ocean.

CONTEXTUAL

The teacher asked the students to read a poem aloud and explain how it made them feel.

COMPLEX

While some readers prefer the strict structure of a sonnet, others find that free verse allows a poem to capture the chaotic nature of modern life more effectively.

Origin

From Middle French poème, from Latin poēma, from Ancient Greek ποίημα (poíēma), from ποιέω (poiéō, “to make”). Displaced native Old English lēoþ.

Usage

Commonly used with the verbs 'write', 'compose', or 'recite'.

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