Princeton's WordNet(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. phrase(noun)

   an expression consisting of one or more words forming a grammatical constituent of a sentence

2. phrase, musical phrase(noun)

   a short musical passage

3. idiom, idiomatic expression, phrasal idiom, set phrase, phrase(noun)

   an expression whose meanings cannot be inferred from the meanings of the words that make it up

4. phrase(verb)

   dance movements that are linked in a single choreographic sequence

5. give voice, formulate, word, phrase, articulate(verb)

   put into words or an expression

   "He formulated his concerns to the board of trustees"

6. phrase(verb)

   divide, combine, or mark into phrases

   "phrase a musical passage"

Wiktionary(4.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. phrase(Noun)

   A short written or spoken expression.

2. phrase(Noun)

   A word or group of words that functions as a single unit in the syntax of a sentence, usually consisting of a head, or central word, and elaborating words.

3. phrase(Noun)

   A small section of music in a larger piece.

4. phrase(Verb)

   To perform a passage with the correct phrasing.

5. phrase(Verb)

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

6. phrase(Verb)

   To divide into melodic phrases.

Origin: From phrasis, from φράσις, from φράζω.

Webster Dictionary(3.50 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Phrase(noun)

   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

2. Phrase(noun)

   a short, pithy expression; especially, one which is often employed; a peculiar or idiomatic turn of speech; as, to err is human

3. Phrase(noun)

   a mode or form of speech; the manner or style in which any one expreses himself; diction; expression

4. Phrase(noun)

   a short clause or portion of a period

5. Phrase(verb)

   to express in words, or in peculiar words; to call; to style

6. Phrase(verb)

   to use proper or fine phrases

7. Phrase(verb)

   to group notes into phrases; as, he phrases well. See Phrase, n., 4

Origin: [F., fr. L. phrasis diction, phraseology, Gr. , fr. to speak.]

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Phrase

   In everyday speech, a phrase may refer to any group of words. In linguistics, a phrase is a group of words that form a constituent and so function as a single unit in the syntax of a sentence. A phrase is lower on the grammatical hierarchy than a clause.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Phrase

   frāz, n. two or more words expressing a single idea by themselves, or showing the manner or style in which a person expresses himself: part of a sentence: a short pithy expression: phraseology: (mus.) a short clause or portion of a sentence.—v.t. to express in words: to style.—n. Phrase′-book, a book containing or explaining phrases.—adj. Phrase′less, incapable of being described.—ns. Phrase′-man, Phrase′-mong′er, a wordy speaker or writer; Phrā′seogram, Phrā′seograph, a combination of shorthand characters to represent a phrase or sentence.—adjs. Phraseolog′ic, -al, pertaining to phraseology: consisting of phrases.—adv. Phraseolog′ically.—ns. Phraseol′ogist, a maker or a collector of phrases; Phrāseol′ogy, style or manner of expression or arrangement of phrases: peculiarities of diction: a collection of phrases in a language; Phrā′ser, a mere maker or repeater of phrases.—adj. Phrā′sical.—n. Phrā′sing, the wording of a speech or passage: (mus.) the grouping and accentuation of the sounds in a melody. [Fr.,—L.,—Gr. phrasis—phrazein, to speak.]

Suggested Resources(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. phrase

   Song lyrics by phrase -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by phrase on the Lyrics.com website.

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'phrase' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #3359

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'phrase' in Written Corpus Frequency: #2607

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'phrase' in Nouns Frequency: #1054

Anagrams for phrase »

1. pasher, phaser, seraph, shaper, sharpe, Sherpa, sherpa, sphear

2. Sherpa

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of phrase in Chaldean Numerology is: 6

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of phrase in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Sample Sentences & Example Usage

1. George Will:

   The phrase "domestic cat" is an oxymoron.

2. Jay Kornegay:

   Whoever coined the phrase 'March Madness' got it correct.

3. Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette:

   Isn't it interesting this lone shooter used that same phrase.

4. Donald Trump:

   I actually like that phrase, that's good, I better trademark it.

5. Horst Seehofer:

   'We can do this' - I cannot, with the best will, adopt this phrase as my own.

Images & Illustrations of phrase