Iamb

//ˈaɪˌæm// noun

noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A metrical foot in verse consisting of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable.
  2. 2
    a metrical unit with unstressed-stressed syllables wordnet

Etymology

From French iambe in the mid-1800s, from Latin ïambus, from Ancient Greek ἴαμβος (íambos). Displaced iambus which shares the same classical origin.

Related phrases

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.