poem

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A literary piece written in verse.

   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.

2. 2
   noun

   a composition written in metrical feet forming rhythmical lines

3. 3
   noun

   A piece of writing in the tradition of poetry, an instance of poetry.

4. 4
   noun

   A piece of poetic writing, that is with an intensity or depth of expression or inspiration greater than is usual in prose.

Etymology

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