poetry

po·et·ry

noun \ˈpō-ə-trē, -i-trē also ˈpȯ(-)i-trē\

Definition of POETRY

1

a : metrical writing : verse

b : the productions of a poet : poems

2

: writing that formulates a concentrated imaginative awareness of experience in language chosen and arranged to create a specific emotional response through meaning, sound, and rhythm

3

a : something likened to poetry especially in beauty of expression

b : poetic quality or aspect <the poetry of dance>

Examples of POETRY

1. I read the poem in a collection of modern poetry.
2. She's published two books of lyric poetry and a novel.
3. He found it easiest to express himself in the language of poetry.
4. Her dancing is pure poetry.

First Known Use of POETRY

14th century

Related to POETRY

Synonyms

minstrelsy, poesy, song, verse

Antonyms

prose

Related Words

rhyme (also rime); blank verse, free verse, vers libre

Other Literature Terms

apophasis, bathos, bildungsroman, bowdlerize, caesura, coda, doggerel, euphemism, poesy, prosody

poetry

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Writing that formulates a concentrated imaginative awareness of experience in language chosen and arranged to create a specific emotional response through its meaning, sound, and rhythm. It may be distinguished from prose by its compression, frequent use of conventions of metre and rhyme, use of the line as a formal unit, heightened vocabulary, and freedom of syntax. Its emotional content is expressed through a variety of techniques, from direct description to symbolism, including the use of metaphor and simile. See also prose poem; prosody.