trimeter

Meanings

1. 1nouncountabletechnical

   A line of poetry that has three metrical feet.

   Grammar: Countable: you can say a trimeter, two trimeters, the trimeter.

   Patterns

   • in trimeter
   • a line of trimeter

   The poem is written in trimeter, so each line feels short and quick.

   Many nursery rhymes use trimeter, which gives them a bouncing rhythm.

   She analyzed the trimeter of the opening stanza for her English class.

2. 2noununcountabletechnical

   The rhythmic pattern itself, as a meter with three feet per line.

   Grammar: Uncountable when referring to the pattern as a whole: written in trimeter, not in a trimeter.

   Patterns

   • written in trimeter
   • use trimeter

   The song's lyrics are in trimeter, which makes them easy to sing.

   He chose trimeter for the refrain to create a sense of urgency.

   Trimeter is less common than tetrameter in English poetry.

Word forms

Common combinations

iambic trimeter

The Greek playwrights often used iambic trimeter in their dialogue.

trochaic trimeter

Trochaic trimeter gives a strong, falling beat at the end of each line.

in trimeter

The entire psalm is written in trimeter.

line of trimeter

Each line of trimeter has exactly three stresses.

Synonyms and how they differ

three-foot line

A plain descriptive phrase; it is clearer for general readers but less technical than trimeter.

Word family

trimetric adjective

Relating to trimeter; used in phrases like trimetric line.

Commonly confused: trimeter or trimester? trimeter or tetrameter?

Practice

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