verse

SayVURS/ˈvɝs/UK/ˈvɜːs/

Pluralverses

Verbverses, versing, versed

9 meanings of verse

Practice

1
nouncountable
A part of a song made up of several lines, often with words that rhyme.
Like one chapter of a story, but sung as part of a song.
The second verse of the song tells a different part of the story.
She forgot the words to the last verse during the concert.
Similarstanza
2
nouncountable
A short numbered part of a holy book like the Bible or Quran.
The preacher read a verse from the Bible before the sermon.
Each verse in the chapter is numbered so people can find it.
3
noununcountable
Writing set out in lines with rhythm, not like normal sentences.
Like words arranged to a beat instead of running on like plain talk.
She has written verse since she was a teenager.
The whole play is composed in verse.
Similarpoetry, rhyme
Oppositeprose
4
noununcountable
A kind of poetry that follows a steady beat and a set rhyming pattern.
Like a song where every line has to match the beat and the rhyme.
The hymn is written in simple four-line verse.
He preferred strict verse to looser modern styles.
Similarpoetry
Oppositeprose
Note
5
verbcolloquialtransitive
To play against someone in a game or contest.
Our team will verse the champions in the final.
Who do we verse next week?
Similarplay, face, meet
Note
6
nouncountable
A part of an anthem sung by one voice for each part.
The soloist sang the verse while the choir waited.
A single voice carried the opening verse of the anthem.
Note
7
verbtransitive
To tell a story or idea by writing it as poetry.
She decided to verse the legend instead of writing it as a story.
The poet versed the old battle in stirring lines.
Similarversify, poeticize
Note
8
verbfigurativelytransitive
To teach someone about a subject so they understand it well.
Her mentor versed her in the rules of diplomacy.
The coach will verse the rookies in the basic tactics.
Similarschool, instruct, train, educate, tutor
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Less common meaning

9
verbobsolete
To make up and write poems.
It is not rhyming and versing that maketh a poet.
a. 1587 (date written), Philip Sidney, An Apologie for Poetrie.Here, versing means writing lines of poetry.
Note

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1–4, 6–9

It comes from Latin 'versus', meaning a line of writing or poetry, from a word meaning 'to turn around'. It reached English through Old English and Old French.

Meaning 5

This comes from 'versus', which was wrongly treated as if it were the verb 'verses'.