strophe

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. The first of a pair of stanzas of alternating form on which the structure of a given poem is based.
2. n. A stanza containing irregular lines.
3. n. The first division of the triad constituting a section of a Pindaric ode.
4. n. The first movement of the chorus in classical Greek drama while turning from one side of the orchestra to the other.
5. n. The part of a choral ode sung while this movement is executed.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. In ancient prosody: A system the metrical form of which is repeated once or oftener in the course of a poem; also, a stanza in modern poetry.
2. n. In a narrower sense— The former of two metrically corresponding systems, as distinguished from the latter or antistrophe.
3. n. The fourth part of the parabasis and first part of the epirrhematic syzygy. It is hymnic in character, as opposed to the scoptic tone of the epirrhema.
4. n. In botany, one of the spirals formed in the development of leaves.
5. n. In music, one of the more or less complete divisions into which a piece in song or dance form is divided: analogous to stanza in verse.

Wiktionary

1. n. prosody A turn in verse, as from one metrical foot to another, or from one side of a chorus to the other.
2. n. prosody The section of an ode that the chorus chants as it moves from right to left across the stage.
3. n. prosody A pair of stanzas of alternating form on which the structure of a given poem is based.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. In Greek choruses and dances, the movement of the chorus while turning from the right to the left of the orchestra; hence, the strain, or part of the choral ode, sung during this movement. Also sometimes used of a stanza of modern verse. See the Note under antistrophe.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. one section of a lyric poem or choral ode in classical Greek drama