full rhyme
Low-mediumAcademic, Literary, Technical (Poetry/Linguistics)
Definition
Meaning
A type of rhyme where the stressed vowel sounds and any following consonant sounds in two or more words are identical (e.g., 'time' and 'slime').
In technical contexts, it refers to 'perfect rhyme' as opposed to slant rhyme or half rhyme. It is the most common and traditional form of rhyme in English verse.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a technical term. In everyday conversation, people usually just say 'rhyme'. The qualifier 'full' is used to specify or contrast with other types of rhyme (e.g., 'slant rhyme').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in definition or usage; the term is standard in literary and academic discourse in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral technical term in both regions.
Frequency
Equally low in both, used mainly in educational, poetic, and linguistic contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[to be] a full rhyme for XThe words X and Y form a full rhyme.use/employ full rhymeVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “N/A”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in literature and poetry analysis courses and textbooks.
Everyday
Rare. Most people would just say 'rhyme'.
Technical
Standard term in prosody, poetry, and linguistics for describing rhyme types.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- These two lines are meant to full-rhyme.
- He full-rhymed 'cat' with 'hat'.
American English
- These two lines are meant to full-rhyme.
- He full-rhymed 'dog' with 'log'.
adverb
British English
- The words rhyme fully, not partially.
- N/A (highly uncommon)
American English
- The endings rhyme fully and perfectly.
- N/A (highly uncommon)
adjective
British English
- It's a full-rhyme couplet.
- The poet preferred a full-rhyme scheme.
American English
- It's a full-rhyme pair.
- The song uses a full-rhyme structure.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- 'Cat' and 'hat' are a full rhyme.
- Children's poems often use full rhyme.
- The poet used full rhyme to make the poem sound musical.
- Find a word that makes a full rhyme with 'game'.
- Unlike modern poetry, the sonnet relies heavily on full rhyme.
- Slant rhyme creates a different effect than full rhyme.
- The critic argued that the relentless use of full rhyme rendered the verse predictable and unsophisticated.
- In phonological terms, a full rhyme requires identity of the nucleus and coda of the stressed syllable.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a cup that is FULL of identical sounds – from the stressed vowel to the end of the word.
Conceptual Metaphor
RHYME IS PERFECTION / RHYME IS COMPLETION (Contrasted with 'half' or 'slant' rhyme).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'полная рифма' in non-technical contexts, as it sounds overly formal. In general discussion, simply 'рифма' is sufficient.
- The concept is the same, but Russian poetry theory uses similar terminology, so direct translation 'полная рифма' is accurate in a technical context.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'full rhyme' in casual conversation where 'rhyme' is enough.
- Confusing it with 'rich rhyme' (which involves homophones).
- Misspelling as 'full rime' (archaic).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the best example of a 'full rhyme' pair?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in most technical contexts, 'full rhyme' and 'perfect rhyme' are synonyms.
Use 'full rhyme' when you need to be precise or are contrasting it with other types like slant rhyme, half rhyme, or assonance.
No. Eye rhymes look similar in spelling but do not sound identical. They are not full/perfect rhymes, which require identical sounds.
Yes, internal rhyme within a line can be a full rhyme (e.g., 'Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary').