WordValelimerick
a humorous five-line poem with a bouncing rhythm
In more detail
1. (noun) a humorous five-line poem with a rhyme scheme AABBA, usually with a silly or funny story
Examples
- There once was a man from Peru / Who dreamed he was eating his shoe / He woke with a fright / In the middle of the night / To find that his dream had come true.
How to use limerick
A limerick is a lighthearted, often absurd or bawdy five-line poem with an AABBA rhyme scheme, typically featuring whimsical characters and unexpected wordplay. It is primarily used in informal contexts, from children's poetry to adult humor, and is named after the Irish city of Limerick. The form is valued for its comic timing and sing-song rhythm.
Common phrases
- write a limerick
- tell a limerick
- recite a limerick
- limerick about
- bawdy limerick
Synonyms
comic verse · humorous poem · funny verse
Word family
limerickist (one who writes limericks)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse the rhyme scheme or mistakenly assume all limericks must have a moral or lesson, when in fact they are meant purely for amusement.
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