Definitions

1. noun

A poem with 19 lines, consisting of five tercets followed by a quatrain, with a repeating refrain in the first and third lines of each tercet and as the final quatrain.

“The poet’s latest collection featured a villanelle that captured the essence of rural life.”

2. noun

A musical composition in which a recurring melody or phrase is repeated throughout, often in a specific pattern.

“The composer’s villanelle for piano and strings was a beautiful example of musical repetition.”