rhyme

 
Pronunciation: /rʌɪm/

noun

[mass noun]
  • correspondence of sound between words or the endings of words, especially when these are used at the ends of lines of poetry: poetic features such as rhythm, rhyme, and alliteration
  • [count noun] a short poem in which the sound of the word or syllable at the end of each line corresponds with that at the end of another: Harriet sang Ben little rhymes
  • rhyming poetry or verse: the clues were written in rhyme
  • [count noun] a word that has the same sound as another: ‘gravel’ can be interpreted as an absurd rhyme for ‘travel’

verb

[no object]
  • (of a word, syllable, or line) have or end with a sound that corresponds to another: balloon rhymes with moon (as adjective rhyming) rhyming couplets
  • (of a poem or song) be composed in rhyme: the poem would have been better if it rhymed
  • [with object] (rhyme something with) put a word together with (another word that has a corresponding sound), as when writing poetry: I’m not sure about rhyming perestroika with balalaika
  • literary compose verse or poetry: Musa rhymed and sang

Phrases

rhyme or reason

[with negative] logical explanation or reason: without rhyme or reason his mood changed

Derivatives

rhymer

noun

rhymist

noun ( archaic)

Origin:

Middle English rime, from Old French, from medieval Latin rithmus, via Latin from Greek rhuthmos (see rhythm). The current spelling was introduced in the early 17th century under the influence of rhythm

Spelling help

Remember that rhyme begins with rhy-.