rhythm

Etymology

First coined in 1557, from Latin rhythmus, from Ancient Greek ῥυθμός (rhuthmós, “any measured flow or movement, symmetry, rhythm”), from ῥέω (rhéō, “I flow, run, stream, gush”).

noun

1. The variation of strong and weak elements (such as duration, accent) of sounds, notably in speech or music, over time; a beat or meter.
   Dance to the rhythm of the music.
2. A specifically defined pattern of such variation.
   Most dances have a rhythm as distinctive as the Iambic verse in poetry
3. A flow, repetition or regularity.
   Once you get the rhythm of it, the job will become easy.
4. The tempo or speed of a beat, song or repetitive event.
   We walked with a quick, even rhythm.
5. The musical instruments which provide rhythm (mainly; not or less melody) in a musical ensemble.
   The Baroque term basso continuo is virtually equivalent to rhythm
6. A regular quantitative change in a variable (notably natural) process.
   The rhythm of the seasons dominates agriculture as well as wildlife
7. Controlled repetition of a phrase, incident or other element as a stylistic figure in literature and other narrative arts; the effect it creates.
   The running gag is a popular rhythm in motion pictures and theater comedy
8. A person's natural feeling for rhythm.
   That girl's got rhythm, watch her dance!