po-et-ry noun literary work in which special intensity is given to the expression of feelings and ideas by the use of distinctive style and rhythm; poems collectively or as a genre of literature. "he is chiefly famous for his love poetry" synonyms: poems, verse, versification, metrical composition, rhymes, balladry; archaic poesy "Walt Whitman's poetry" a quality of beauty and intensity of emotion regarded as characteristic of poems. "poetry and fire are nicely balanced in the music" something regarded as comparable to poetry in its beauty. "the music department is housed in a building that is pure poetry"