RHYTHM

rhythm, regular recurrence

(noun) recurring at regular intervals

rhythm, speech rhythm

(noun) the arrangement of spoken words alternating stressed and unstressed elements; “the rhythm of Frost’s poetry”

rhythm, beat, musical rhythm

(noun) the basic rhythmic unit in a piece of music; “the piece has a fast rhythm”; “the conductor set the beat”

cycle, rhythm, round

(noun) an interval during which a recurring sequence of events occurs; “the never-ending cycle of the seasons”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

rhythm (countable and uncountable, plural rhythms)

The variation of strong and weak elements (such as duration, accent) of sounds, notably in speech or music, over time; a beat or meter.

A specifically defined pattern of such variation.

A flow, repetition or regularity.

The tempo or speed of a beat, song or repetitive event.

The musical instruments which provide rhythm (mainly; not or less melody) in a musical ensemble.

A regular quantitative change in a variable (notably natural) process.

Controlled repetition of a phrase, incident or other element as a stylistic figure in literature and other narrative arts; the effect it creates.

Synonyms

• meter / metre

• prosody

• (instruments providing rhythm) rhythm section

Source: Wiktionary

Rhythm, n. Etym: [F. rhythme, rythme, L. rhythmus, fr. GR. Stream.]

1. In the widest sense, a dividing into short portions by a regular succession of motions, impulses, sounds, accents, etc., producing an agreeable effect, as in music poetry, the dance, or the like.

2. (Mus.)

Definition: Movement in musical time, with periodical recurrence of accent; the measured beat or pulse which marks the character and expression of the music; symmetry of movement and accent. Moore (Encyc. )

3. A division of lines into short portions by a regular succession of arses and theses, or percussions and remissions of voice on words or syllables.

4. The harmonious flow of vocal sounds.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition