ode

1 of 2

noun

ˈōd 

plural odes

1

: a lyric poem usually marked by exaltation of feeling and style, varying length of line, and complexity of stanza forms

Clifton's ode "homage to my hips"

2

: something that shows respect for or celebrates the worth or influence of another : homage

The museum would be an ode to visual storytelling, drawn from the director's collection of film ephemera and fine art.

—Chanan Tigay

The recipe is an ode to my homeland, Vietnam, and I'd like to share it with my new friends in America.

—Gourmet

odist

ˈō-dist 

noun

-ode

2 of 2

noun combining form

1

: way : path

electrode

2

: electrode

diode

Examples of ode in a Sentence

Noun

This poem is titled, “An Ode to My Mother.”

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This masterful film is both an ode to old-school musicals and a remarkably modern piece of filmmaking — with Spielberg's explosive colors, expansive cinematography, and soaring song-and-dance numbers matching the weighty themes and timeless emotions of this classic. —James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Jan. 2026

Here, a visual ode to the Italian couturier's Hollywood moments. —Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 19 Jan. 2026

The other top winner of the night was Richard Linklater who scooped Best Director for Nouvelle Vague, while Guillaume Marbeck won Best Male Revelation for his performance as Jean-Luc Godard in the ode to the French New Wave. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 18 Jan. 2026

All national odes are to Indiana coach Curt Cignetti for his good work. —Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 18 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle French or Late Latin; Middle French, from Late Latin, from Greek ōidē, literally, song, from aeidein, aidein to sing; akin to Greek audē voice

Noun combining form

Greek -odos, from hodos

First Known Use

Noun

1538, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ode

• blowed
• bode
• code
• crowed
• flowed
• glowed
• goad
• growed
• knowed
• load
• lode
• lowed

Kids Definition

ode

1 of 2 noun

ˈōd 

: a lyric poem that expresses a noble feeling with dignity

-ode

2 of 2 noun combining form

ˌōd

1

: way : path

electrode

2

: electrode

diode

Etymology

Noun combining form

derived from Greek hodos "way, path"