Verse

/ˈvɝs/ · noun

Meaning

A poetic form with regular meter and a fixed rhyme scheme..

Definitions by Sense

1. A poetic form with regular meter and a fixed rhyme scheme.
2. Poetic form in general.
3. One of several similar units of a song, consisting of several lines, generally rhymed.
4. A small section of a holy book (Bible, Quran etc.)
5. (music) A portion of an anthem to be performed by a single voice to each part.
6. (obsolete) To compose verses.
7. (transitive) To tell in verse, or poetry.
8. (transitive, figurative) to educate about, to teach about.

Example Sentences

Restoration literature is well known for its carefully constructed verse.

The restrictions of verse have steadily been relaxed over time.

Note the shift in tone between the first verse and the second.

It is not rhyming and versing that maketh a poet.

playing on pipes of corn and versing love

He versed us in the finer points of category theory.

Not unnaturally, “Auntie” took this communication in bad part.[…]Next day she[…]tried to recover her ward by the hair of the head. Then, thwarted, the wretched creature went to the police for help; she was versed in the law, and perhaps had spared no pains to keep on good terms with the local constabulary.

When teams play now they "verse" each other. "Who did you verse?" (Forget "whom". It's long dead.) "We're versing you next." Pity the Latin scholar who might feel the loss of "versus" more keenly than many.

Synonyms for verse

Antonyms for verse

Related Words

Word Forms

• verses
• versing
• versed

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

Practice and Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions