stanza

noun

stan·​za ˈstan-zə How to pronounce stanza (audio)
1
: a division of a poem consisting of a series of lines arranged together in a usually recurring pattern of meter and rhyme : strophe
2
sports : a period (such as a half or an inning) into which the duration of a game is divided
The game's prime moment wasn't the decisive and popular eighth-inning, two-run homer by Mark Bellhorn … but a sensational play by Boston's Manny Ramirez in the top of that same stanza.Roger Angell
stanzaic adjective

Examples of stanza in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Their defense also missed a whopping 10 tackles in the opening stanza. Vincent Frank, Forbes, 24 Nov. 2024 The Kings’ largest lead was 22 points late in the third quarter before the Lakers closed the stanza on a 15-5 run. Joe Reedy, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2024 So, of course … Colton’s Thursday — D … after scoring a one-timer at Utah in the first period, Colton left a 5-1 win in Salt Lake City midway through the second stanza with an apparent hand injury. Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 26 Oct. 2024 The latter delivers a particularly blistering stanza, as the Brooklyn rep compares his watch faces to Presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump’s complexions. Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 25 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for stanza 

Word History

Etymology

Italian, stay, abode, room, stanza, from Vulgar Latin *stantia stay — more at stance

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stanza was in 1589

Dictionary Entries Near stanza

Cite this Entry

“Stanza.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stanza. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

stanza

noun
stan·​za ˈstan-zə How to pronounce stanza (audio)
: a division of a poem consisting of a series of lines arranged together in a usually repeating pattern of rhythm and rhyme
stanzaic adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on stanza

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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