Rhyming dictionary

This article is about a type of reference work used in composing poetry. For the special type of Chinese phonological dictionary, see Rime dictionary.

A rhyming dictionary is a specialist dictionary designed for use in writing poetry and lyrics. In a rhyming dictionary, words are categorized into equivalence classes that consist of words which rhyme with one another. They will also typically support several different kinds of rhymes, and possibly also alliteration as well.

Because rhyming dictionaries are based on pronunciation, they are difficult to compile. Words and rhyming patterns change their pronunciation over time and between dialects. Rhyming dictionaries for Old English, Elizabethan poetry, or Standard English would have quite different content.

As rhyming dictionaries arrange the whole language according to its word terminations, they can be useful in solving crossword puzzles.

Simple reverse dictionary

Walker's Rhyming Dictionary, one of the oldest, lists words in alphabetical order of the reversed word, with an appendix covering the differently spelled but homo-phonic endings.

Examples:

Word	Reversed	Definition
Felucca	acculef	A small open boat, s.
Angelica	acilegna	A plant, s.
Basilica	acilisab	The middle vein of the arm, a.
Vomica	acimov	An encysted tumour in the lungs, a.
Pica	acip	The green sickness; a printing letter, a.
Sciatica	acitaics	The hip-gout, s.
Anasarca	acrasana	A sort of dropsy, or pitting of the flesh, s.
Armada	adamra	A large fleet of ships of war, s.
Cassada	adassac	An American plant, s.
Coloquintida	aditniuqoloc	The bitter apple, s.
Asafoetida	aditeofasa	A stinking gum, s.
Credenda	adnederc	Articles of faith, s. plur.
Panacea	aecanap	A universal medicine; an herh, a.
Idea	aedi	Mental imagination, s.
Bohea	aehob	A species of tea, s.
Lea	ael	Grass land enclosed, s,
Flea	aelf	A troublesome insect, s. -r

See also

• Rhyme Genie - dynamic rhyming dictionary with 30 different rhyme types
• Rime dictionary - ancient type of Chinese dictionary

Online rhyming dictionaries

• What rhymes with?
• Rhymebox
• RhymeZone
• Rhymer
• WikiRhymer
• RhymeIt
• Rhymebrain – Rhyme any word, even made up ones