PHRASE • DICCIONARIO INGLES.COM • Definition of Phrase

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/freɪz/ Listen

noun

Phrase n.

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. ""Convey" the wise it call. "Steal!" foh! a fico for the phrase."

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

A mode or form of speech; the manner or style in which any one expreses himself; diction; expression. "Phrases of the hearth." "Thou speak'st In better phrase and matter than thou didst."

(Mus.) A short clause or portion of a period. Note: A composition consists first of sentences, or periods; these are subdivided into sections, and these into phrases.

Phrase book, a book of idiomatic phrases.

verb

Phrase v. t. (past & past part. phrased; pres. part. phrasing) To express in words, or in peculiar words; to call; to style. "These suns for so they phrase 'em."

Phrase v. i.

To use proper or fine phrases. (R.)

(Mus.) To group notes into phrases; as, he phrases well. See Phrase, n., 4.

See images of 'Phrase'

Etymology of 'Phrase'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Phrase" Quotes from Famous Books

... board ship I had been fortunate enough to borrow a Malay phrase-book from a man who had visited the Archipelago before, and during the voyage to Batavia I had amused myself with copying out some of the phrases and committing them to memory. On landing I found these few phrases extremely useful, and ...

— A Visit to Java - With an Account of the Founding of Singapore • W. Basil Worsfold

... suggestive phrase, he bent fondly toward a little face surrounded by a white woollen hood, from which the ...

— Serge Panine • Georges Ohnet

... difficult task to replace him among the most zealous professors of christianity. He may, perhaps, in the ardour of his imagination, have hazarded an expression, which a mind intent upon faults may interpret into heresy, if considered apart from the rest of his discourse; but a phrase is not to be opposed to volumes; there is scarcely a writer to be found, whose profession was not divinity, that has so frequently testified his belief of the sacred writings, has appealed to them with such unlimited ...

— The Works of Samuel Johnson, Vol. 6 - Reviews, Political Tracts, and Lives of Eminent Persons • Samuel Johnson

... employ Corals; but that you may as well make use of any Alcalizate Salt, or of Pearls, or Crabs eyes, or any other Body, upon which common Spirit of Vinager will easily work, and, to speak in an Helmontian Phrase, Exantlate it self. ...

— The Sceptical Chymist • Robert Boyle

... creased and pocket-worn envelope containing Cytherea's letter to himself, Springrove opened it and read it through. He was upbraided therein, and he was dismissed. It bore the date of the letter sent to Manston, and by containing within it the phrase, 'All the day long I have been thinking,' afforded justifiable ground for assuming that it was written subsequently to the other (and in Edward's sight far sweeter one) to ...

— Desperate Remedies • Thomas Hardy

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