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phrase

noun
/ˈfɹeɪ̯z/

Etymology

Borrowed from Late Latin phrasis (“diction”), from Ancient Greek φράσις (phrásis, “manner of expression”), from φράζω (phrázō, “to tell, express”).

  1. derived from φράσις
  2. borrowed from phrasis

Definitions

  1. A short written or spoken expression.

  2. A word or, more commonly, a group of words that functions as a single unit in the syntax…

    A word or, more commonly, a group of words that functions as a single unit in the syntax of a sentence, always containing an expressed or implied head (the principal word or subgroup, with core importance) and often consisting of a head plus some other elaborating words.

    • Holonyms: clause, sentence; phrasing, phraseology, turn of phrase; phrase-book; document, message; language; communication
    • Meronyms: head, complement, adjunct, supplement, modifier; term, word
    • Congratulations on managing to use the phrase “preponderant criterion” in a chart (“On your marks”, November 9th). Was this the work of a kakorrhaphiophobic journalist set a challenge by his colleagues, or simply an example of glossolalia?

  3. A small section of music in a larger piece.

  4. ›+ 5 more definitions

    1. A mode or form of speech

      A mode or form of speech; diction; expression.

      • Thou speak'st / In better phrase and matter than thou didst.
      • […] From out a common vein of memory / Sweet household talk, and phrases of the hearth, […]

    2. A short individual motion forming part of a choreographed dance.

    3. To express (an action, thought or idea) by means of particular words.

      • I wasn't sure how to phrase my condolences without sounding patronising.
      • These suns — for so they phrase 'em.

    4. To perform (a passage) with a particular phrasing.

    5. To divide into melodic phrases.

The neighborhood

Derived

activation phrase, adjectival phrase, adpositional phrase, adverbial phrase, antecedent phrase, bombard phrase, bombard-phrase, buzz-phrase, catch-all phrase, catch phrase, catch-phrase, catchphrase, coin a phrase, conjunctional phrase, consequent phrase, counterphrase, determiner phrase, empty phrase, filler phrase, fixed phrase, inflectional phrase, interjectional phrase, interphrase, intonational phrase, keyphrase, midphrase, misphrase, participial phrase, parting phrase, passphrase, pet phrase, phonological phrase, phrasable, phrasal, phrase-book, phrase book, phrasebook, phrasehood, phraseless, phraselet · +29 more

Vish — recursive loop

A definitional loop anchored at phrase. Each word in the ring is defined by the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself. Scroll to it and watch.

01phrase02implied03suggested04suggest05suppose06less07adverbs08adverb09phrases

A definitional loop anchored at phrase. Each word in the ring appears in the definition of the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself.

9 hops · closes at phrase

curated · pre-corpus. live cycle detection across the full graph is the next major milestone.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA