rhythm Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the basic rhythmic unit in a piece of music
    beat; musical rhythm.
    • the piece has a fast rhythm
    • the conductor set the beat
  2. noun recurring at regular intervals
    regular recurrence.
  3. noun an interval during which a recurring sequence of events occurs
    round; cycle.
    • the never-ending cycle of the seasons
  4. noun the arrangement of spoken words alternating stressed and unstressed elements
    speech rhythm.
    • the rhythm of Frost's poetry
  5. noun natural family planning in which ovulation is assumed to occur 14 days before the onset of a period (the fertile period would be assumed to extend from day 10 through day 18 of her cycle)
    calendar method; rhythm method of birth control; calendar method of birth control; rhythm method.

WordNet

Rhythm noun
Etymology
F. rhythme, rythme, L. rhythmus, fr. GR. measured motion, measure, proportion, fr. to flow. See Stream.
Definitions
  1. In the widest sense, a dividing into short portions by a regular succession of motions, impulses, sounds, accents, etc., producing an agreeable effect, as in music poetry, the dance, or the like.
  2. (Mus.) Movement in musical time, with periodical recurrence of accent; the measured beat or pulse which marks the character and expression of the music; symmetry of movement and accent. Moore (Encyc. )
  3. A division of lines into short portions by a regular succession of arses and theses, or percussions and remissions of voice on words or syllables.
  4. The harmonious flow of vocal sounds.

Webster 1913