What does "rhyme" mean?

"Rhyme" refers to a similarity or correspondence in the sounds of two or more words, typically at the end of lines in poems or songs. When two words rhyme, they have the same or similar ending sound, which can create a pleasant and musical effect in language. Rhyming is a common literary device used by poets and songwriters to add rhythm, musicality, and memorability to their work.

There are different types of rhymes, including:

1. Perfect Rhyme: This occurs when the later part of the word or phrase is identical sounding to another. For example, "sky" and "high" rhyme perfectly.

2. Slant Rhyme: Also known as imperfect or near rhyme, this happens when the words have a similar but not identical sound, such as "love" and "move".

3. End Rhyme: This is the most common type of rhyme, where the last syllables or words in two or more lines rhyme with each other, such as "star" and "far".

4. Internal Rhyme: When a rhyme occurs within a single line of verse, it's called an internal rhyme. For example, "I went to town to buy a gown."

5. Rich Rhyme: When two words are spelled differently but pronounced the same, like "sight" and "site," it’s known as a rich rhyme.

Rhymes are fundamental to various forms of poetry, including sonnets, limericks, and free verse, as well as to the lyrics of songs in many musical traditions.