'Phrase' definitions:
Definition of 'phrase'
(from WordNet)
noun
An expression consisting of one or more words forming a grammatical constituent of a sentence
noun
A short musical passage [syn: phrase, musical phrase]
noun
An expression whose meanings cannot be inferred from the meanings of the words that make it up [syn: idiom, idiomatic expression, phrasal idiom, set phrase, phrase]
noun
Dance movements that are linked in a single choreographic sequence
verb
Put into words or an expression; "He formulated his concerns to the board of trustees" [syn: give voice, formulate, word, phrase, articulate]
verb
Divide, combine, or mark into phrases; "phrase a musical passage"
Definition of 'Phrase'
From: GCIDE
- Phrase \Phrase\, n. [F., fr. L. phrasis diction, phraseology, Gr. ?, fr. ? to speak.]
- 1. A brief expression, sometimes a single word, but usually two or more words forming an expression by themselves, or being a portion of a sentence; as, an adverbial phrase. [1913 Webster]
- "Convey" the wise it call. "Steal!" foh! a fico for the phrase. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- 2. A short, pithy expression; especially, one which is often employed; a peculiar or idiomatic turn of speech; as, to err is human. [1913 Webster]
- 3. A mode or form of speech; the manner or style in which any one expreses himself; diction; expression. "Phrases of the hearth." --Tennyson. [1913 Webster]
- Thou speak'st In better phrase and matter than thou didst. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
- 4. (Mus.) A short clause or portion of a period. [1913 Webster]
- Note: A composition consists first of sentences, or periods; these are subdivided into sections, and these into phrases. [1913 Webster]
- Phrase book, a book of idiomatic phrases. --J. S. Blackie. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Phrase'
From: GCIDE
Definition of 'Phrase'
From: GCIDE
- Phrase \Phrase\, v. i.
- 1. To use proper or fine phrases. [R.] [1913 Webster]
- 2. (Mus.) To group notes into phrases; as, he phrases well. See Phrase, n., 4. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'phrase'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- adage,
- address,
- adjectival phrase,
- affirmation,
- allegation,
- ana,
- anacrusis,
- analects,
- answer,
- aphorism,
- apostrophe,
- apothegm,
- article,
- articulate,
- assertion,
- averment,
- axiom,
- back matter,
- bass passage,
- book,
- bourdon,
- breathe,
- bridge,
- burden,
- byword,
- cadence,
- catchword,
- chapter,
- chestnut,
- chime,
- choice of words,
- chorus,
- clause,
- cliche,
- coda,
- collected sayings,
- collocation,
- colloquialism,
- column,
- come out with,
- comment,
- commonplace,
- communicate,
- composition,
- conceive,
- convey,
- couch,
- couch in terms,
- crack,
- current saying,
- declaration,
- delineate,
- deliver,
- describe,
- development,
- dialect,
- dictate,
- diction,
- dictum,
- disclose,
- distich,
- division,
- embody in words,
- emit,
- enunciate,
- epigram,
- exclamation,
- exposition,
- express,
- expression,
- fascicle,
- figure,
- fling off,
- folderol,
- folio,
- formularize,
- formulate,
- formulation,
- frame,
- front matter,
- gathering,
- give,
- give expression,
- give expression to,
- give out with,
- give tongue,
- give utterance,
- give voice,
- give words to,
- glosseme,
- gnome,
- golden saying,
- grammar,
- greeting,
- harmonic close,
- icon,
- idiom,
- impart,
- installment,
- interjection,
- interlude,
- intermezzo,
- introductory phrase,
- language,
- leitmotiv,
- let out,
- lexeme,
- lexical form,
- lip,
- livraison,
- locution,
- manner of speaking,
- maxim,
- measure,
- mention,
- moral,
- morpheme,
- mot,
- motif,
- motive,
- motto,
- movement,
- musical phrase,
- musical sentence,
- note,
- noun phrase,
- number,
- observation,
- oracle,
- ornament,
- out with,
- page,
- paragraph,
- parlance,
- part,
- Parthian shot,
- passage,
- period,
- phonate,
- phraseology,
- phrasing,
- pithy saying,
- platitude,
- position,
- pour forth,
- precept,
- prescript,
- present,
- pronounce,
- pronouncement,
- proverb,
- proverbial saying,
- proverbs,
- put,
- put forth,
- put in words,
- question,
- raise,
- reflection,
- refrain,
- remark,
- resolution,
- response,
- rhetoric,
- rhetorize,
- ritornello,
- saw,
- say,
- saying,
- section,
- semasiological unit,
- sememe,
- sentence,
- sententious expression,
- serial,
- set forth,
- set out,
- sheet,
- sign,
- signature,
- signifiant,
- significant,
- slogan,
- sloka,
- sound,
- speech,
- stanza,
- state,
- statement,
- stock saying,
- strain,
- style,
- subject,
- subjoinder,
- sutra,
- symbol,
- syntax,
- tailpiece,
- talk,
- teaching,
- tell,
- term,
- text,
- theme,
- thought,
- throw off,
- token,
- tutti,
- tutti passage,
- type,
- usage,
- use of words,
- usus loquendi,
- utter,
- utterance,
- variation,
- verb phrase,
- verbalize,
- verbiage,
- verse,
- vocabulary,
- vocalize,
- voice,
- volume,
- way of speaking,
- whisper,
- wisdom,
- wisdom literature,
- wise saying,
- witticism,
- word,
- word-group,
- wordage,
- wording,
- words of wisdom,
- write