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

There are two seatings each night, serving a chef’s choice tasting menu that begins with that ode to minuta but branches out to evoke familiar Cuban flavors. —Connie Ogle february 3, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2026

Adapted from the 1981 Broadway musical of the same name, Dreamgirls is an ode to the iconic Motown record label, along with its superstar act The Supremes. —Okla Jones, Essence, 1 Feb. 2026

His ode to Armenian cuisine is now open as a counter-service restaurant in Glendale. —Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026

Linklater’s ode to the French new wave was nominated in 10 categories, including for best director, film, original screenplay and cinematography. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 28 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"