Rime: meaning, definitions and examples

Used mainly in poetry and refers to frost or icy coating on surfaces. It is an older or more poetic alternative to 'rhyme'.

• The morning rime glistened on the window pane.
• His poems often mentioned the rime of winter nights.

Commonly used in poetry and songs, referring to the correspondence of sounds at the ends of lines or within lines.

• Children enjoy poems that have simple rhymes.
• Dr. Seuss is famous for his playful rhymes.

A single line of poetry or a group of lines forming a unit within a poem. It can also refer to poetry in general.

• She penned a beautiful verse about love.
• The hymn has four verses.

Refers to the rhythmic flow of a sequence of sounds or words, often used in both poetry and prose, as well as in music.

• The cadence of his speech was captivating.
• She loved the graceful cadence of the poem.

Used to describe frost formed on cold objects by the rapid freezing of water vapor in cloud or fog.

• The trees were covered with a thick layer of rime after the fog lifted.

Refers to a thin layer of ice that forms on surfaces when the temperature drops below freezing. Common in weather reports.

• There was a heavy frost on the grass this morning.
• The frost made the roads slippery.

General term for frozen water, can refer to ice on lakes, ice cubes, or any other form of solid water. Not specific to thin layers.

• Careful, the pond is covered in ice.
• She slipped on a patch of ice on the sidewalk.

Specifically describes a white, feathery layer of frost that forms on objects, especially in the early morning.

• The meadow was blanketed in hoarfrost, glistening in the dawn light.
• Hoarfrost coated the branches, making the trees look like they were dipped in sugar.