haiku

[ hahy-koo ]
/ ˈhaɪ ku /

noun, plural hai·ku for 2.

a major form of Japanese verse, written in 17 syllables divided into 3 lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables, and employing highly evocative allusions and comparisons, often on the subject of nature or one of the seasons.
a poem written in this form.

Origin of haiku

1895–1900; < Japanese, equivalent to hai(kai) haikai + ku stanza; see hokku

Example sentences from the Web for haiku

British Dictionary definitions for haiku

haiku

hokku

/ (ˈhaɪkuː) /

noun plural -ku

an epigrammatic Japanese verse form in 17 syllables

Word Origin for haiku

from Japanese, from hai amusement + ku verse

Cultural definitions for haiku

haiku
[ (heye-kooh) ]

A form of Japanese poetry. A haiku expresses a single feeling or impression and contains three unrhymed lines of five, seven, and five syllables, respectively.