poetry
gb/pˈoʊətɹi/ us/pˈoʊətɹi/
B1
English
~ 2900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
Literary work in verse form
Writing that uses rhythm and beautiful language to show ideas or feelings, usually in lines and verses.
Usage pattern:
[someone] writes poetry
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'poetry' (the art form) with 'poem' (a single work).
Synonyms
verse (Often refers to a single line or section of poetry, but can also mean poetry in general.)
|
poem (Refers to an individual piece of poetry rather than the art form as a whole.)
Antonyms
prose (Refers to ordinary written or spoken language without metrical structure, the opposite of poetry's verse form.)
Collocations
love poetry
|modern poetry
|write poetry
|poetry reading
|poetry collection
Themes
literature
|art
|expression
|arts_entertainment
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She has been writing poetry since she was a teenager.
- Poetry can express emotions that are hard to put into plain words.
- The festival will feature readings of contemporary poetry.
- He published a book of poetry last year.
- Poetry often uses imagery to create vivid pictures in the reader's mind.
Learner examples
- I like to read poetry before bed.
- He writes poetry about nature.
- She studies poetry at school.
- We read old poetry in class.
- Poetry is different from normal writing.
Noun
literary
B2
property
2
Beautiful, artistic quality like a poem
A special beauty or feeling in something that is like what you find in poems.
Usage pattern:
the poetry of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this sense is figurative and not about written poems.
Synonyms
lyricism (Emphasizes musical or emotional expression similar to poetry.)
Antonyms
banality (Lacking originality or beauty; the opposite of poetic quality.)
Collocations
poetry of motion
|poetry in music
|find poetry in [something]
Themes
art
|emotion
|arts_entertainment
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- There is poetry in the way she dances.
- The film captures the poetry of everyday life.
- He found poetry in the city streets at night.
Learner examples
- There is poetry in her smile.
- I see poetry in the sunset.
- The music has poetry.
Grammar
Dictionary form
poetry
IPA
GB/pˈoʊətɹi/
US/pˈoʊətɹi/
Syllables & stress
po - etry (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (po)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: poetry
- Plural: poetry
Word family
Expressions
epic poetry
1/ˈɛpɪk pˈoʊətɹi/
fixed phrase
formal
Long poem about heroic deeds
A very long poem that tells a story about heroes or great events.
Examples
- Homer's 'Iliad' is a classic example of epic poetry.
- Epic poetry often reflects the values of its culture.
poetry in motion
1/pˈoʊətɹi ˈɪn mˈoʊʃən/
idiom
Extremely graceful movement
When someone or something moves in a very beautiful and smooth way.
Examples
- Watching the skater glide across the ice was pure poetry in motion.
- The way the team worked together was like poetry in motion.
slam poetry
1/slˈæm pˈoʊətɹi/
fixed phrase
Competitive spoken-word performance
A kind of competition where people perform their own poems out loud with strong feeling.
Examples
- He performs slam poetry at local cafes.
- Slam poetry events attract many young artists.