nonmetrical

IPA/ˌnɒnˈmet.rɪkəl/
IPA/ˌnɑːnˈmet.rɪkəl/

nonmetrical — adjective

  • nonmetricalpositive
  • more nonmetricalcomparative
  • most nonmetricalsuperlative

1. describes poetry or verse that does not follow a regular pattern of stressed and

1.形容詞C2
釋義

describes poetry or verse that does not follow a regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables, so its lines have no consistent beat or metre.

例句

Xiu writes nonmetrical poetry that sounds like natural speech rather than song.

modifies poetry / verse / writing

The critic called the poem nonmetrical because its line lengths and stresses were irregular.

used after linking verb: be + nonmetrical

同義詞
  • unmetered

    less common than 'nonmetrical'; also used in music for time signatures

  • free-verse

    a specific type of nonmetrical poetry; not a direct synonym of the adjective

反義詞
  • metrical

    the direct opposite — having a regular pattern of stressed syllables

  • rhythmic

    broader term for anything with a regular beat, not limited to poetry

文法句型

nonmetrical + noun

be + nonmetrical

用法筆記

Primarily used in literary criticism and poetry analysis; the opposite is 'metrical'. This word is rarely used outside academic discussions of verse form.

常見錯誤

❌The novel was written in nonmetrical prose.
✅The poem was written in nonmetrical verse.
💡'nonmetrical' applies specifically to poetry or verse, not to prose in general.
❌The haiku was nonmetrical because it had no rhyme.
✅The haiku was nonmetrical because its syllables had no fixed stress pattern.
💡'nonmetrical' refers to rhythm, not rhyme.