a line of metrical text
"The poet recited each verse of the epic poem with perfect rhythm and emotion."
A poetic form with regular meter and a fixed rhyme scheme.
"The sonnet is a classic verse that follows strict rules of meter and rhyme."
In plain English: A verse is a single line of poetry that often rhymes with other lines to create rhythm and meaning.
"The children memorized their favorite verses from the Bible for Sunday school."
Usage: As a noun, verse refers specifically to poetry written in lines rather than prose paragraphs. As a verb, it means to play or fight an opponent directly within the context of a competitive match.
To compose verses.
"I need to verse the top player in the final round of the tournament."
To oppose, to compete against, especially in a video game.
In plain English: To verse means to learn something by heart through repeated practice until you can say it perfectly without looking at notes.
"The poet decided to verse his love story into a ballad for their anniversary gift."
The word "verse" comes to Middle English as a blend of the Old English fers and Old French vers, both derived from Latin. Originally meaning a row or furrow in writing, it evolved through these languages to specifically denote a line in poetry before entering modern usage.