phrase - Dictionary Definition : Vocabulary.com

The verb phrase means to articulate. You should be careful how you phrase your criticism of your boss. Saying he can be demanding is probably okay. Saying he is an ogre is probably not.

In grammar, a phrase is a group of words that is part of a sentence but can't stand alone. In the sentence, "We should go to your house," "to your house" is a phrase. A phrase can also be an idiomatic saying. If you told a foreign exchange student to "get off the fence" and pick a side in the debate, he might look puzzled at the phrase and say, "But I'm nowhere near a fence!"

PRIMARY MEANINGS OF: phrase

1	n v	an expression consisting of one or more words forming a grammatical constituent of a sentence put into words or an expression
2	n v	a short musical passage divide, combine, or mark into phrases

FULL DEFINITIONS OF: phrase

1

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

Types:: show 6 types...; hide 6 types...; nominal, nominal phrase, noun phrase
a phrase that can function as the subject or object of a verb; predicate, verb phrase
one of the two main constituents of a sentence; the predicate contains the verb and its complements; prepositional phrase
a phrase beginning with a preposition; pronominal, pronominal phrase
a phrase that functions as a pronoun; response
a phrase recited or sung by the congregation following a versicle by the priest or minister; catch phrase, catchphrase
a phrase that has become a catchword

Type of:: construction, expression, grammatical construction
a group of words that form a constituent of a sentence and are considered as a single unit

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

Synonyms:: idiom, idiomatic expression, phrasal idiom, set phrase

Types:: ruralism, rusticism
a rural idiom or expression

Type of:: expression, locution, saying
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations

v put into words or an expression

Synonyms:: articulate, formulate, give voice, word

Types:: show 5 types...; hide 5 types...; ask
direct or put; seek an answer to; lexicalise, lexicalize
make or coin into a word or accept a new word into the lexicon of a language; dogmatise, dogmatize
state as a dogma; formularise, formularize
express as a formula; cast, couch, frame, put, redact
formulate in a particular style or language

Type of:: evince, express, show
give expression to

2

n a short musical passage

Synonyms:: musical phrase

Types:: show 4 types...; hide 4 types...; ligature
(music) a group of notes connected by a slur; ostinato
a musical phrase repeated over and over during a composition; ground bass
a short melody in the bass that is constantly repeated; riff
a jazz ostinato; usually provides a background for a solo improvisation

Type of:: musical passage, passage
a short section of a musical composition

n dance movements that are linked in a single choreographic sequence

Type of:: dance, dancing, saltation, terpsichore
taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music

v divide, combine, or mark into phrases

“phrase a musical passage”

Type of:: arrange, order, put, set up
arrange thoughts, ideas, temporal events