sonnet

UK: /ˈsɒnɪt/ US: /ˈsɑnɪt/ ,(son′it)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

son•net /ˈsɑnɪt/   n. [countable]

1. Poetry a poem written in 14 lines, with rhymes arranged in a fixed scheme:
   Italian sonnets have a major group of eight lines followed by a minor group of six lines.

See -son-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

son•net  (son′it), n. 

1. Poetry [Pros.] a poem, properly expressive of a single, complete thought, idea, or sentiment, of 14 lines, usually in iambic pentameter, with rhymes arranged according to one of certain definite schemes, being in the strict or Italian form divided into a major group of 8 lines (the octave) followed by a minor group of 6 lines (the sestet), and in a common English form into 3 quatrains followed by a couplet.

v.i. 

2. Poetry [Archaic.] to compose sonnets.

v.t. 

3. Poetry [Older Use.] to celebrate in a sonnet or sonnets.

• Latin sonus sound¹) + -et -et
• Old Provencal sonet, equivalent. to son poem (
• Italian sonnetto
• 1550–60

son′net•like′, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

sonnet / ˈsɒnɪt/ noun

1. a verse form of Italian origin consisting of 14 lines in iambic pentameter with rhymes arranged according to a fixed scheme, usually divided either into octave and sestet or, in the English form, into three quatrains and a couplet

verb

1. (intransitive) to compose sonnets
2. (transitive) to celebrate in a sonnet

Etymology: 16th Century: via Italian from Old Provençal sonet a little poem, from son song, from Latin sonus a sound