strophe

[ stroh-fee ]
/ ˈstroʊ fi /

noun

the part of an ancient Greek choral ode sung by the chorus when moving from right to left.
the movement performed by the chorus during the singing of this part.
the first of the three series of lines forming the divisions of each section of a Pindaric ode.
(in modern poetry) any separate section or extended movement in a poem, distinguished from a stanza in that it does not follow a regularly repeated pattern.

Origin of strophe

1595–1605; < Greek strophḗ a twist, turning about, akin to stréphein to turn; see strepto-

SYNONYMS FOR strophe

3 See verse.

Example sentences from the Web for strophe

British Dictionary definitions for strophe

strophe
/ (ˈstrəʊfɪ) /

noun prosody

(in ancient Greek drama)
  1. the first of two movements made by a chorus during the performance of a choral ode
  2. the first part of a choral ode sung during this movement
(in classical verse) the first division of the threefold structure of a Pindaric ode
the first of two metrical systems used alternately within a poem
See also antistrophe, epode

Word Origin for strophe

C17: from Greek: a verse, literally: a turning, from strephein to twist