Main Entry:

iamb

Pronunciation:

\ˈī-ˌam(b)\

Variant(s):

or iam·bus \ī-ˈam-bəs\

Function:

noun

Inflected Form(s):

plural iambs \ˈī-ˌamz\ or iam·bus·es

Etymology:

Latin iambus, from Greek iambos

Date:

1586

: a metrical foot consisting of one short syllable followed by one long syllable or of one unstressed syllable followed by one stressed syllable (as in above)

— iam·bic \ī-ˈam-bik\ adjective or noun