iamb
1 synonym and 1 antonym for iamb, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A metrical foot in verse made up of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
iambus
Antonyms
trochee
How to use iamb
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
iambic pentameter
a run of iambs
iambic metre
iambic rhythm
Iamb is a specialist term used in the study of poetry and prosody.
Etymology
Iamb entered English from French in the mid-1800s, and the French word itself came from Latin, which had taken it from Ancient Greek. It took over from the older term iambus, which shares the same origin.
Full origin of iamb →Frequently asked questions
What is an iamb in poetry?
An iamb is a metrical foot made of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed one, used in the study of verse.
Where does the word iamb come from?
It came into English from French in the mid-1800s, ultimately from a Latin word that traces back to Ancient Greek.
Is iamb the same as iambus?
Iambus is an older term for the same metrical foot; iamb replaced it as the more common word.
