Definitions

1. noun

In music, a pickup measure or a short introductory phrase before the main theme or subject of a composition, often with a different rhythm or meter.

“The composer used anacrusis to create a sense of tension before the main melody.”

2. noun

A phrase or a word that precedes a line of verse in poetry, often with a different meter or rhythm.

“The anacrusis in the poem added to the sense of anticipation for the reader.”