Haiku Definition

hīko͝o
haikus
noun
A Japanese verse form, rendered in English as three unrhymed lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables respectively (total 17 syllables), often on some subject in nature.
Webster's New World
A verse form in another language modeled on the Japanese haiku, typically counting syllables instead of morae.
American Heritage
A poem in this form.
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Haiku

Noun

Singular:
haiku
Plural:
haikus

Origin of Haiku

  • Japanese hai amusement (from Middle Chinese pfiaːj) ku phrase (from Middle Chinese kyə̆` sentence) (also the source of Mandarin )

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Japanese 俳句 (はいく haiku), from Middle Chinese 俳 (bɛj "paralleled [writing]") + 句 (kjù "line").

    From Wiktionary

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