phrase en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈfɹɛjz/ (British, Southern, Standard)
- /ˈfɹeɪ̯z/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
- (US) audio
- /ˈfɹæɪ̯z/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
- [ˈfɹʷeɪ̯z] (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
- [ˈfɹʷɛjz] (British, Southern, Standard)
- [ˈfɹʷæ̝ɪ̯z] (Australia, New-Zealand)
- [ˈfɾeːz] (Scotland)
- /ˈfɾez/ (Scotland)
Etymology
Borrowed from Late Latin phrasis (“diction”), from Ancient Greek φράσις (phrásis, “manner of expression”), from φράζω (phrázō, “to tell, express”).
Meanings
-
A short written or spoken expression.
I've made progress, but this is still, in Churchill's phrase, just "the end of the beginning."
-
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
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?
2013 November 30, Paul Davis, “Letters: Say it as simply as possible”, in The Economist, volume 409, number 8864:There is always a head in a phrase. When it is not accompanied by anything else, we have a one-word phrase. Cheese can be an NP [noun phrase], and so can squid. If we didn't allow one-word phrases, we'd often have to say "either a noun or an NP," "either a verb or a VP," and so on. When I talk about a phrase, always remember that I don't mean a unit containing more than one word; I mean a unit with at least one word (the head), which may contain other words as well.
2024, Geoffrey K. Pullum, The Truth About English Grammar, Polity Press, →ISBN, page 12:Meronyms: head, complement, adjunct, supplement, modifier; term, word
- A small section of music in a larger piece.
-
(archaic) A mode or form of speech; diction; expression.
[…] From out a common vein of memory / Sweet household talk, and phrases of the hearth, […]
1847, Alfred Tennyson, “Part II”, in The Princess: A Medley, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC, page 39:Thou speak'st / In better phrase and matter than thou didst.
c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene vi]:
- A short individual motion forming part of a choreographed dance.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| phrases | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
interphrase · set phrase · coin a phrase · phraseme · empty phrase · phraseology · stock phrase · fixed phrase · phrase book · phraseograph · seed phrase · turn a phrase · catch phrase · passphrase · tortured phrase · parting phrase · term phrase · phonological phrase · bombard-phrase · catch-all phrase · participial phrase · filler phrase · phrasable · bombard phrase · conjunctional phrase · prepositional phrase · interjectional phrase · activation phrase · counterphrase · consequent phrase · keyphrase · phraseless · adpositional phrase · phrasehood · postpositional phrase · stop-phrase · phraseogram · pronominal phrase · misphrase · catch-phrase · adverbial phrase · phraselet · statistically improbable phrase · signal phrase · intonational phrase · phrasebook · midphrase · adjectival phrase · phrase name · scare phrase · turn of phrase · inflectional phrase · phrasemonger · phrasy · buzz-phrase · recovery phrase · determiner phrase · phrase-book · catchphrase · phrasal · phrase structure · antecedent phrase · subphrase · phrasemaking · tautophrase · pet phrase · phraseman · phrasemaker
Hypernyms
utterance · syntagma · linguistic unit
Hyponyms
set phrase · adverbial phrase · noun phrase · adjective phrase · prepositional phrase
Meronyms
Synonyms
figure of speech (expression) · locution (expression) · expression · phrase
Translations (225)
is frasi (short written or spoken expression) · ms frasa (short written or spoken expression) · da frase (short written or spoken expression) · rm frasa (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · pl fraza (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · fr syntagme (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · cmn 樂句 /乐句 (music: small section of music in a larger piece) · et fraas (short written or spoken expression) · wa ratourneure (short written or spoken expression) · km ឃ្លា (short written or spoken expression) · hu szókapcsolat (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · nn frase (short written or spoken expression) · ky фраза (short written or spoken expression) · eo frazo (short written or spoken expression) · hi वाक्य (short written or spoken expression) · ga frása (short written or spoken expression) · nb frase (music: small section of music in a larger piece) · am ሐረግ (short written or spoken expression) · fi fraasi (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · tpi toktok (short written or spoken expression) · pt locução (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · ko 프레이즈 (music: small section of music in a larger piece) · lt žodžių junginys (short written or spoken expression) · ro sintagmă (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · nn frase (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · de Phrase (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · da udtryk (short written or spoken expression) · cmn 短語 /短语 (short written or spoken expression) · it polirematica (short written or spoken expression) · it locuzione (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · tr deyim (short written or spoken expression) · ur عِبارَت (short written or spoken expression) · hy արտահայտություն (short written or spoken expression) · be фра́за (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · it frase (music: small section of music in a larger piece) · pt frase (music: small section of music in a larger piece) · be высло́ўе (short written or spoken expression) · it espressione (short written or spoken expression) · uk фра́за (short written or spoken expression) · fa-ira گُروه (short written or spoken expression) · sv fras (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · fr phrase (music: small section of music in a larger piece) · be фра́за (music: small section of music in a larger piece) · id frasa (short written or spoken expression) · gd abairt (short written or spoken expression) · ro frază (short written or spoken expression) · tk jümle (short written or spoken expression) · cs slovní spojení (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · sv uttryck (short written or spoken expression) · tt гыйбарә (short written or spoken expression) · id ungkapan (short written or spoken expression) · fr locution (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · he צֵרוּף לָשׁוֹן (short written or spoken expression) · mi kīanga (short written or spoken expression) · hu kifejezés (short written or spoken expression) · ja 楽句 (music: small section of music in a larger piece) · kk сөйлемше (short written or spoken expression) · ar عِبَارَة (short written or spoken expression) · ja フレーズ (music: small section of music in a larger piece) · ro expresie (short written or spoken expression) · yi פֿראַזע (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · lo ປໂຍກ (short written or spoken expression) · mi rerenga kupu (short written or spoken expression) · cy priod-ddull (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · lv frāze (short written or spoken expression) · nl uitspraak (short written or spoken expression) · mk фраза (short written or spoken expression) · be фра́за (short written or spoken expression) · eo lokucio (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · ca frase (music: small section of music in a larger piece) · az ifadə (short written or spoken expression) · ia expression (short written or spoken expression) · tk fraza (short written or spoken expression) · et väljend (short written or spoken expression) · nl frase (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · sk fráza (short written or spoken expression) · ar جُمْلَة (short written or spoken expression) · bn ফ্রেজ (short written or spoken expression) · uk фра́за (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · lo ວະລີ (short written or spoken expression) · ko 구 (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · es frase (short written or spoken expression) · bg фра́за (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · es frase (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · ja 語句 (short written or spoken expression) · tl parirala (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · th วลี (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · it frase (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · az ibarə (short written or spoken expression) · is málsháttur (short written or spoken expression) · sq thënie (short written or spoken expression) · sq togfjalësh (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · ar تَعْبِير (short written or spoken expression) · ko 어구 (short written or spoken expression) · it polirematica (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · sq shprehje (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · hu szószerkezet (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · ro expresie (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · uz ibora (short written or spoken expression) · sl stavek (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · es frase (music: small section of music in a larger piece) · el φράση (music: small section of music in a larger piece) · nb frase (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · ka ფრაზა (short written or spoken expression) · wa fråze (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · sl fraza (short written or spoken expression) · el φράση (short written or spoken expression) · vi cụm từ (short written or spoken expression) · fa-ira عِبارَت (short written or spoken expression) · ru фра́за (short written or spoken expression) · hi जुमला (short written or spoken expression) · vi câu (short written or spoken expression) · tr öbek (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · ps عبارت (short written or spoken expression) · mk фраза (music: small section of music in a larger piece) · fa-ira گُروه واژِه (short written or spoken expression) · tr tabir (short written or spoken expression) · id frasa (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · lt frazė (short written or spoken expression) · uk ви́слів (short written or spoken expression) · pl wyrażenie (short written or spoken expression) · gl frase (short written or spoken expression) · ja フレーズ (short written or spoken expression) · mn хэлц (short written or spoken expression) · uk ре́чення (short written or spoken expression) · uk словосполу́чення (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · pl fraza (music: small section of music in a larger piece) · cs fráze (short written or spoken expression) · ur جُمْلَہ (short written or spoken expression) · bg фра́за (short written or spoken expression) · ru словосочета́ние (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · ru фра́за (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · sh fráza (short written or spoken expression) · hu mondás (short written or spoken expression) · uz gap (short written or spoken expression) · sv fras (short written or spoken expression) · fa-ira جُمْلِه (short written or spoken expression) · pt sintagma (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · pt expressão (short written or spoken expression) · my နိဒ္ဒေသ (short written or spoken expression) · mk израз (short written or spoken expression) · he מִשְׁפָּט (short written or spoken expression) · de Redewendung (short written or spoken expression) · arz تَعْبِير (short written or spoken expression) · sv fras (music: small section of music in a larger piece) · af frase (short written or spoken expression) · pl zdanie (short written or spoken expression) · bn বাক্য (short written or spoken expression) · cy brawddeg (music: small section of music in a larger piece) · vo fraseod (short written or spoken expression) · gd abairt (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · nb frase (short written or spoken expression) · fi lauseke (music: small section of music in a larger piece) · th วลี (short written or spoken expression) · ro frază (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · hu csoport or szerkezet (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · kk фраза (short written or spoken expression) · fr expression (short written or spoken expression) · bg фра́за (music: small section of music in a larger piece) · hu frázis (music: small section of music in a larger piece) · wuu 片語 /片语 (short written or spoken expression) · be словазлучэ́нне (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · tg ҷумла (short written or spoken expression) · ru выраже́ние (short written or spoken expression) · cs sousloví (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · ru оборо́т ре́чи (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · cmn 詞組 /词组 (short written or spoken expression) · sk zvrat (short written or spoken expression) · kk сөйлем (short written or spoken expression) · yi פֿראַזע (short written or spoken expression) · ga frása (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · lt frazė (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · sh фра́за (short written or spoken expression) · vi cụm từ (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · uk фра́за (music: small section of music in a larger piece) · hy բառակապակցություն (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · hi मुहावरा (short written or spoken expression) · ca sintagma (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · tt сүзтезмә (short written or spoken expression) · se gihppu (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · ug ئىبارەت (short written or spoken expression) · pt frase (short written or spoken expression) · ko 구 (short written or spoken expression) · et fraas (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · az fraza (short written or spoken expression) · sq frazë (short written or spoken expression) · ja 句 (short written or spoken expression) · tr ifade (short written or spoken expression) · ja 句 (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · ru фра́за (music: small section of music in a larger piece) · az söz birləşməsi (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · tl parirala (short written or spoken expression) · sv uttryck (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · fi lauseke (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · fi fraasi (music: small section of music in a larger piece) · hi इबारत (short written or spoken expression) · ce алар (short written or spoken expression) · uz fraza (short written or spoken expression) · lt žodžių junginys (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · ga abairtín (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · nn frase (music: small section of music in a larger piece) · ko 악구 (music: small section of music in a larger piece) · de Phrase (short written or spoken expression) · cy ymadrodd (short written or spoken expression) · sq frazë (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · ky сүйлөм (short written or spoken expression) · bg и́зраз (short written or spoken expression) · th ประโยค (short written or spoken expression) · el φράση (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · tg ибора (short written or spoken expression) · be словазлучэ́ньне (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · cmn 片語 /片语 (short written or spoken expression) · yue 片語 /片语 (short written or spoken expression) · nan-hbl 片語 /片语 (short written or spoken expression) · rmf laavengo knippos (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · pl wypowiedzenie (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · hi वाक्यांश (short written or spoken expression) · de Phrase (music: small section of music in a larger piece) · fi ilmaus (short written or spoken expression) · rm frasa (music: small section of music in a larger piece) · fa-ira گُروه واژِه (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · pl fraza (short written or spoken expression) · az ibarə (grammar: group of two or more words that express an idea but do not form a complete sentence) · ms ungkapan (short written or spoken expression) · af 'n frase (short written or spoken expression)