i ‧ amb /ˈaɪæm $ ˈaɪæm, ˈaɪæmb/ BrE AmE ( also i‧am‧bus /aɪˈæmbəs/) noun [countable] technical
[ Date: 1800-1900 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: iambus , from Greek iambos ]
a unit of ↑ rhythm in poetry, that has one short or weak beat followed by a long or strong beat, as in the word ‘alive’
—iambic /aɪˈæmbɪk/ adjective