rhythmic

Rhythmic, from the Greek rhythmos meaning measured flow, is an adjective and noun used to describe patterns of sounds or movements in time. In general use, it denotes something characterized by a regular, recurring beat or cadence, or the organization of time in a work of art.

In music, rhythm refers to the arrangement of sounds and silences with varying durations; it works with tempo and meter to organize time. Common time signatures, note values, rests, and accents create patterns that define a piece's motion and groove. Techniques such as syncopation, ostinato, and polyrhythm expand rhythmic complexity and drive.

In poetry and speech, rhythm is the cadence of language. Meter, stress patterns, and syllable length contribute to rhythmic feel in verse and prose. In dance, rhythm coordinates body movement with music, shaping style and expression.

Culturally, rhythms vary across musical traditions, yielding diverse meters, cross-rhythms, and syncopations. In modern contexts, rhythm is analyzed with computational tools and used in music production, performance, and rhythm-based analysis in linguistics and cognitive science.

The term rhythmic is used as a general descriptor in fields as diverse as linguistics, design, and physiology when describing regular, time-based patterns. It underpins not only art forms such as music and dance but also the way information and movement are organized in time.