phrase

FRAYZ/fɹeɪz/

Pluralphrases

Verbphrases, phrasing, phrased

8 meanings of phrase

Practice

1
nouncountable
A small group of words used together to say or write something.
Like a small group of bricks that fit together to make one part of a wall.
She used a kind phrase to thank everyone for their help.
He repeated the same phrase until I finally remembered it.
Similarexpression, line, saying
2
nouncountable
A word or group of words that works as one unit in a sentence.
Like a group of train cars hooked together that move as one.
A phrase like "the red car" acts as one part of the sentence.
Students sorted each phrase into nouns and verbs during the lesson.
Note
3
verbtransitive
To say or write something using certain words.
Like choosing just the right words to wrap up an idea.
Try to phrase your answer in a kind way.
He phrased the bad news gently so no one panicked.
Similarword, express, couch, formulate
Note
4
nouncountable
A short part of a longer piece of music.
Like one sentence in a long story, but made of musical notes.
The pianist played the same phrase twice before moving on.
She hummed a short phrase from her favorite tune.
Similarpassage
Note
5
nouncountable
A short single movement that is part of a dance.
Like one short move that joins with others to make a whole dance.
The dancer practiced one phrase until it looked perfect.
Each phrase in the routine tells part of the story.
Similarmovement
Note
6
verbtransitive or intransitive
To play or sing a part of music in a certain way.
Like reading a sentence out loud with feeling instead of flat.
She phrased the melody softly to match the quiet mood.
Good musicians phrase carefully, even in fast passages.
Note
7
verbtransitive
To break a piece of music into short parts.
Like adding commas to break a long sentence into smaller pieces.
The teacher showed us how to phrase the simple tune.
He phrased the whole song into four short parts.
Note

Less common meaning

8
nounarchaic
A way of speaking or the choice of words someone uses.
Like the special way a person talks that you would know anywhere.
His elegant phrase showed he had been well taught.
Thou speak'st / In better phrase and matter than thou didst.
c. 1603, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”Here, phrase means way of speaking, so his words are clearer than before.
Note

Practice

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Origin

It comes from Greek 'phrasis', meaning a manner of expression, from a verb meaning 'I tell, I express'.