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View synonyms for

poetry

[poh-i-tree]

noun

  1. the art of rhythmical composition, written or spoken, for exciting pleasure by beautiful, imaginative, or elevated thoughts.

  2. literary work in metrical form; verse.

    Antonyms:
  3. prose with poetic qualities.

  4. poetic qualities however manifested.

    the poetry of simple acts and things.

  5. poetic spirit or feeling.

    The pianist played the prelude with poetry.

  6. something suggestive of or likened to poetry.

    the pure poetry of a beautiful view on a clear day.



poetry

/ ˈəʊɪٰɪ /

noun

  1. literature in metrical form; verse

  2. the art or craft of writing verse

  3. poetic qualities, spirit, or feeling in anything

  4. anything resembling poetry in rhythm, beauty, etc

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • poetryless adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of poetry1

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English poetrie, from Medieval Latin ŧٰ “poetic art,” derivative of ŧٲ poet, but formation is unclear; probably not from Greek Ǿḗt ‼DZٱ”
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Word History and Origins

Origin of poetry1

C14: from Medieval Latin ŧٰ, from Latin ŧٲ poet
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Synonym Study

Poetry, verse agree in referring to the work of a poet. The difference between poetry and verse is usually the difference between substance and form. Poetry is lofty thought or impassioned feeling expressed in imaginative words: Elizabethan poetry. Verse is any expression in words which simply conforms to accepted metrical rules and structure: the differences between prose and verse.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

She loved music, poetry, reading and, in particular, art.

From

The revisions in language, done for reasons of accessibility, diminish the poetry.

From

Since then, poetry - which she did only for herself or as a gift for loved ones' birthdays and weddings - has become something she has shared publicly to connect with others.

From

When he’s not working, Zurie likes to go on long walks, memorize poetry and discover new bookstores.

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All that changed when he entered a Texas-wide poetry reading competition as a high school senior.

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When To Use

is poetry?

Poetry is literature that is written in verse and emphasizes the rhythmic use of words to create imagery.  Works of poetry are called poems. A person who writes poetry is called a poet.Poetry is a major form of literature. The biggest difference that sets poetry apart from other forms of writing is that poetry uses verse, which is concerned with meter, rather than prose, which does not. Poetry also may not use complete sentences or punctuation marks. Instead, poetry places an importance on using words and syllables that give rhythm to a poem.There are many different forms of poetry, such as haiku, elegies, and sonnets. While some types of poems have rules on how they should be written, poets often break the rules if the poem will be better for it. You can find more information about these and other forms of poetry in our article, “12 Essential Types of Poetry.”

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poet laureatePoets are born, not made