strophe

noun

stro·​phe ˈstrō-(ˌ)fē 

1

a

: a rhythmic system composed of two or more lines repeated as a unit

especially : such a unit recurring in a series of strophic units

b

: stanza sense 1

2

a

: the movement of the classical Greek chorus while turning from one side to the other of the orchestra

b

: the part of a Greek choral ode sung during the strophe of the dance

Examples of strophe in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Each strophe creates a distinctive sound world on the fly — now fiercely dissonant, now languid and sweet-toned — and the piece moves from one to the next with quicksilver elusiveness. —Joshua Kosman, San Francisco Chronicle, 17 Jan. 2018

Word History

Etymology

Greek strophē, literally, act of turning, from strephein to turn, twist

First Known Use

1603, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

strophe

noun

stro·​phe ˈstrō-fē 

: a division of a poem : stanza

strophic

ˈstrō-fik

ˈsträf-ik

adjective