phrase
♦ phrase /fr'eɪz/ (phrases phrasing phrased)
1 [N-COUNT]
A phrase is a short group of words that people often use as a way of saying something. The meaning of a phrase is often not obvious from the meaning of the individual words in it.
He used a phrase I hate: `You have to be cruel to be kind.'
2 [N-COUNT]
A phrase is a small group of words which forms a unit, either on its own or within a sentence.
It is impossible to hypnotise someone simply by saying a particular word or phrase.
3 [VERB] V n adv, V n as n
If you phrase something in a particular way, you express it in words in that way.
I would have phrased it quite differently...
They phrased it as a question.
4 [PHRASE] N inflects
If someone has a particular turn of phrase, they have a particular way of expressing themselves in words.
...Schwarzkopf's distinctive turn of phrase.
to coin a phrase: see coinnoun phrase (noun phrases)
[N-COUNT]
A noun phrase is the same as a noun group.phrase book (phrase books)
[N-COUNT]
A phrase book is a book used by people travelling to a foreign country. It has lists of useful words and expressions, together with the translation of each word or expression in the language of that country.
We bought a Danish phrase book.prepo|si|tion|al phrase /pr'epəzɪʃənəl fr'eɪz/ (prepositional phrases)
[N-COUNT]
A prepositional phrase is a structure consisting of a preposition and its object. Examples are `on the table' and `by the sea'.
1 [N-COUNT]
A phrase is a short group of words that people often use as a way of saying something. The meaning of a phrase is often not obvious from the meaning of the individual words in it.
He used a phrase I hate: `You have to be cruel to be kind.'
2 [N-COUNT]
A phrase is a small group of words which forms a unit, either on its own or within a sentence.
It is impossible to hypnotise someone simply by saying a particular word or phrase.
3 [VERB] V n adv, V n as n
If you phrase something in a particular way, you express it in words in that way.
I would have phrased it quite differently...
They phrased it as a question.
4 [PHRASE] N inflects
If someone has a particular turn of phrase, they have a particular way of expressing themselves in words.
...Schwarzkopf's distinctive turn of phrase.
to coin a phrase: see coinnoun phrase (noun phrases)
[N-COUNT]
A noun phrase is the same as a noun group.phrase book (phrase books)
[N-COUNT]
A phrase book is a book used by people travelling to a foreign country. It has lists of useful words and expressions, together with the translation of each word or expression in the language of that country.
We bought a Danish phrase book.prepo|si|tion|al phrase /pr'epəzɪʃənəl fr'eɪz/ (prepositional phrases)
[N-COUNT]
A prepositional phrase is a structure consisting of a preposition and its object. Examples are `on the table' and `by the sea'.