phrase
Other forms: phrases; phrasing; phrased
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!"
Definitions of phrase
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an expression consisting of one or more words forming a grammatical constituent of a sentence
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types:
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nominal, nominal phrase, noun phrase
a phrase that can function as the subject or object of a verb
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predicate, verb phrase
one of the two main constituents of a sentence; the predicate contains the verb and its complements
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prepositional phrase
a phrase beginning with a preposition
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pronominal, pronominal phrase
a phrase that functions as a pronoun
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response
a phrase recited or sung by the congregation following a versicle by the priest or minister
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catch phrase, catchphrase
a phrase that has become a catchword
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type of:
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construction, expression, grammatical construction
a group of words that form a constituent of a sentence and are considered as a single unit
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an expression whose meanings cannot be inferred from the meanings of the words that make it up
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synonyms:
idiom, idiomatic expression, phrasal idiom, set phrase
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type of:
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expression, locution, saying
a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations
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expression, locution, saying
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put into words or an expression
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synonyms:
articulate, formulate, give voice, word
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types:
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ask
direct or put; seek an answer to
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lexicalise, lexicalize
make or coin into a word or accept a new word into the lexicon of a language
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dogmatise, dogmatize
state as a dogma
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formularise, formularize
express as a formula
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cast, couch, frame, put, redact
formulate in a particular style or language
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a short musical passage
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synonyms:
musical phrase
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types:
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ligature
(music) a group of notes connected by a slur
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ostinato
a musical phrase repeated over and over during a composition
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ground bass
a short melody in the bass that is constantly repeated
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riff
a jazz ostinato; usually provides a background for a solo improvisation
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type of:
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musical passage, passage
a short section of a musical composition
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dance movements that are linked in a single choreographic sequence
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type of:
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dance, dancing, saltation, terpsichore
taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
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dance, dancing, saltation, terpsichore
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divide, combine, or mark into phrases
Pronunciation
US
/freɪz/
UK
/freɪz/
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘phrase'.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
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