| rhythm | |
| 1. n. The variation of strong and weak elements (such as duration, accent) of sounds, notably in speech or music, over time; a beat or meter. | |
| Dance to the rhythm of the music. | |
| 2. n. A specifically defined pattern of such variation. | |
| Most dances have a rhythm as distinctive as the Iambic verse in poetry | |
| 3. n. A flow, repetition or regularity. | |
| Once you get the rhythm of it, the job will become easy. | |
| 4. n. The tempo or speed of a beat, song or repetitive event. | |
| We walked with a quick, even rhythm. | |
| 5. n. The musical instruments which provide rhythm (mainly; not or less melody) in a musical ensemble. | |
| The Baroque term basso continuo is virtually equivalent to rhythm | |
| 6. n. A regular quantitative change in a variable (notably natural) process. | |
| The rhythm of the seasons dominates agriculture as well as wildlife | |
| 7. n. Controlled repetition of a phrase, incident or other element as a stylistic figure in literature and other narrative arts; the effect it creates. | |
| The running gag is a popular rhythm in motion pictures and theater comedy | |
