In poetry, what is defined as a unit of rhythm or meter, usually consisting of a group of syllables?

In poetry, a foot is defined as a unit of rhythm or meter that comprises a specific arrangement of syllables. A foot typically includes one stressed syllable and one or more unstressed syllables, creating the rhythmic foundation for a line of verse. The various types of feet, such as iambs, trochees, anapests, and dactyls, contribute to the overall meter of a poem, influencing its musical quality and flow.

While other terms such as stanza, line, and verse refer to structural components of poetry, they do not specifically denote the rhythmic unit itself. A stanza is a grouped set of lines, a line is a single row of words in a poem, and verse generally refers to any poetic composition but does not directly pertain to rhythm. Thus, the term foot is the precise definition relevant to the concept of rhythm in poetry.