ode

1 of 2

noun

plural odes
1
: a lyric poem usually marked by exaltation of feeling and style, varying length of line, and complexity of stanza forms
Keats's ode "To a Nightingale"
2
: something that shows respect for or celebrates the worth or influence of another : homage
The museum would be an ode to visual storytelling, drawn from the director's collection of film ephemera and fine art.Chanan Tigay
The recipe is an ode to my homeland, Vietnam, and I'd like to share it with my new friends in America.Gourmet
odist noun

-ode

2 of 2

noun combining form

1
: way : path
electrode
2
: electrode
diode

Examples of ode in a Sentence

Noun This poem is titled, “An Ode to My Mother.”
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Megan's nails were also an ode to Starfire, with a translucent purple base shaped into sharp stiletto points and bedazzled with rhinestone-and-ruby decals on the center of each nail to mimic the jeweled medallions on the collar and waistline of her lavender bodysuit. Kara Nesvig, Allure, 30 Oct. 2024 The documentary is also an ode to the loyal fans that follow boy bands. Lexi Carson, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Oct. 2024 Larger Than Life is also very much an ode to the fans, featuring insights from the boy band devotees themselves. Jessica Wang, EW.com, 28 Oct. 2024 The crisp Sun Block possesses precise stripes of florals, and Busy Bee is an ode to the namesake fuzzy insects flitting between ripening blueberries. Alia Akkam, Architectural Digest, 28 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ode 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ode.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle French or Late Latin; Middle French, from Late Latin, from Greek ōidē, literally, song, from aeidein, aidein to sing; akin to Greek audē voice

Noun combining form

Greek -odos, from hodos

First Known Use

Noun

1538, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ode was in 1538

Dictionary Entries Near ode

Cite this Entry

“Ode.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ode. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

ode

1 of 2 noun
: a lyric poem that expresses a noble feeling with dignity

-ode

2 of 2 noun combining form
ˌōd
1
: way : path
electrode
2
: electrode
diode
Etymology

Noun combining form

derived from Greek hodos "way, path"

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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