Verse: meaning, definitions and examples

Use when referring to biblical writing, specifically a segment or passage.

• She quoted a verse from the Bible during her speech.
• He recited a verse that gave him hope.

Use when referring to a single row of words in a poem or song.

• The poet's favorite line in the poem was 'To be, or not to be'.
• He remembered every line of the song.

Use when referring to a group of lines in a poem, often separated by a space.

• The second stanza of the poem describes the beauty of nature.
• Please read the first stanza of the poem aloud.

Use when referring to a section of a poem, typically in classical literature, distinct from antistrophe.

• The strophe of the poem set the stage for the dramatic events to follow.
• In ancient Greek poetry, the strophe often indicates the turning point of the poem.

Commonly used in poetry, songs, and religious texts such as the Bible. 'Verse' refers to a single line or a specific part of a longer piece.

• She recited a beautiful verse from her favorite poem.
• The first verse of the song is very catchy.

Used to describe a larger division within a text, report, document, or book. It generally refers to a substantial part that can stand on its own.

• Please read section three before our meeting tomorrow.
• The safety section of the manual is very detailed.

Applicable in various contexts such as written work, media, or presentations. 'Segment' refers to a distinct part that can be separated from the whole.

• This TV show has a segment dedicated to cooking.
• We need to revise the first segment of the project.

Often used in literature and articles, 'passage' refers to a relatively short part of a written work, such as a paragraph or a few sentences.

• He read a moving passage from his novel during the book signing.
• We analyzed a passage from the article for the test.