Ode
oʊd
Definitions
A lyric poem expressing exalted emotion such as praise.
oʊd
A lyric poem, typically one in the form of an address to a particular subject, often elevated in style or manner and expressing enthusiastic praise or admiration.
The poet composed an ode to the beauty of nature.
💡 Simply: Imagine writing a super-fancy poem to celebrate something awesome, like a beautiful sunset or your best friend. That's an ode! It's a poem full of feeling and admiration, like when you're really excited about something.
👶 For kids: A special poem that celebrates something or someone. It's like a song, but with words!
More Examples
Her graduation speech was almost an ode to the graduating class.
The collection features several odes to love and loss.
How It's Used
"Keats's 'Ode to a Nightingale' is a famous example of this poetic form."
From Latin *oda*, from Greek *ōidē* meaning "song" or "lyric poem". Initially, odes were intended to be sung, often accompanied by musical instruments.
Odes were particularly popular during the Romantic period in poetry, where emotions and nature were central themes.
Memory tip
Think of 'ode' like a song of praise to a special thing or person.