poem

English

Alternative forms

• poëm, poeme (rare or archaic)

Etymology

From Middle French poème, from Latin poēma, from Ancient Greek ποίημα (poíēma), from ποιέω (poiéō, “I make”). Displaced native Old English lēoþ.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈpəʊ̯ɪm/, [ˈpʰəʊ̯ɪm]

  • Audio (UK)

    (file)

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈpoʊ̯əm/, /poʊ̯m/, [ˈpʰo(ʊ̯)əm], [ˈpʰo(ʊ̯)m̩], [ˈpʰo(ʊ̯)m]
• (India) IPA^(key): /ˈpoʊ̯ɪm/, [ˈpo(ʊ̯)ɪm]
• (Malaysia, Scotland) IPA^(key): /pojəm/
• Rhymes: -əʊəm, -əʊm

Noun

poem (plural poems)

1. A literary piece written in verse.
   • 2013 July-August, Sarah Glaz, “Ode to Prime Numbers”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 4:

     Some poems, echoing the purpose of early poetic treatises on scientific principles, attempt to elucidate the mathematical concepts that underlie prime numbers. Others play with primes’ cultural associations. Still others derive their structure from mathematical patterns involving primes.

   • Literary definition

     Relating to literature. (1 of 5 literary definitions)

   • Verse definition

     A poetic form with regular meter and a fixed rhyme scheme. (1 of 5 verse definitions)
2. A piece of writing in the tradition of poetry, an instance of poetry.

   • Writing definition

     Graphism of symbols such as letters that express some meaning. (1 of 6 writing definitions)

   • Poetry definition

     Literature composed in verse or language exhibiting conscious attention to patterns and rhythm. (1 of 3 poetry definitions)
3. A piece of poetic writing, that is with an intensity or depth of expression or inspiration greater than is usual in prose.

   • Poetic definition

     Relating to poetry. (1 of 3 poetic definitions)

   • Intensity definition

     The quality of being intense. (1 of 6 intensity definitions)

   • Prose definition

     Language, particularly written language, not intended as poetry. (1 of 3 prose definitions)

Holonyms

• poetry

Derived terms

Related terms

• poet
• poetic
• poetics
• poetry

Translations

Further reading

• “poem”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “poem”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• “poem”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

Anagrams

• mope, pome

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from French poème or German Poem.

Noun

poem n (plural poeme)

1. poem

Declension

Further reading

• poem in DEX online—Dicționare ale limbii române (Dictionaries of the Romanian language)

Scots

Etymology

From Middle French poème, from Latin poēma, from Ancient Greek ποίημα (poíēma), from ποιέω (poiéō, “I make”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [pom], [poəm]

Noun

poem (plural poems)

1. poem
   • 1985, John J. Graham, "E Wir ain aald language. Writin ida Shetland dialect", in Manfred Görlach, Focus on Scotland, John Benjamins Publishing Company, page 193.

     Hit wisna till weel trowe da nineteent century at Shetlanders tried der haand at writin ida dialect — maistly poems, wi a antrin story noo an dan.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 1991, Chapman, numbers 67-70, page 36:

     And Hugh MacDiarmid was and is A Brawli Makar, for as siccan folk hand tae 't as thrugaun as a poem itsel, he daes, an daes he no.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 2000, Chapman, numbers 95-97, page 64:

     The pseudonym TSL first thocht on uisin stertin oot ti publish his wark wis Thrawn, an he uised this for whit we think micht be his first published poem in a Sooth African paper at haes (for nou) hidden itsel ower again amang the files.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Swedish

Etymology

From Middle French poème, from Latin poēma, from Ancient Greek ποίημα (poíēma), from ποιέω (poiéō, “I make”).

Noun

poem n

1. poem

Declension

Vilamovian

Noun

poem n

1. poem