n. & v.
n. 1 identity of sound between words or the endings of words, esp. in verse. 2 (in sing. or pl.) verse having rhymes. 3 a the use of rhyme. b a poem having rhymes. 4 a word providing a rhyme.
v. 1 intr. a (of words or lines) produce a rhyme. b (foll. by with) act as a rhyme (with another). 2 intr. make or write rhymes; versify. 3 tr. put or make (a story etc.) into rhyme. 4 tr. (foll. by with) treat (a word) as rhyming with another. rhyming slang slang that replaces words by rhyming words or phrases, e.g. stairs by apples and pears, often with the rhyming element omitted (as in TITFER). without rhyme or reason lacking discernible sense or logic. rhymeless adj. rhymer n. rhymist n.
[ ME rime f. OF rime f. med.L rithmus, rythmus f. L f. Gk rhuthmos RHYTHM ]