quatrain Definition
a stanza of four lines, especially one having alternate rhymes.
Using quatrain: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "quatrain" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The poem consists of several quatrains.
Example
Each quatrain has a different rhyme scheme.
Example
The first quatrain sets the tone for the rest of the poem.
quatrain Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with quatrain
Example
Shakespeare's sonnets are often written in heroic quatrains.
ballad quatrain
a quatrain in alternating iambic tetrameter and iambic trimeter with an ABAB rhyme scheme
Example
Many traditional ballads are written in ballad quatrains.
a Persian form of poetry consisting of quatrains with a particular rhyme scheme
Example
The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam is a famous collection of rubaiyats.
Origins of quatrain
from French 'quatre', meaning 'four'
Summary: quatrain in Brief
A 'quatrain' [kwɑːˈtreɪn] is a stanza of four lines, often with alternate rhymes. It is a common form in poetry, with examples like 'The poem consists of several quatrains.' Quatrains can have different rhyme schemes, such as the heroic quatrain in iambic pentameter, or the ballad quatrain in alternating iambic tetrameter and iambic trimeter. The Persian form of poetry called 'rubaiyat' also consists of quatrains with a specific rhyme scheme.