Phrase

• POS: Noun, Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

Phrase, n. [F., fr. L. phrasis diction, phraseology, Gr. , fr. to speak.].

•  A brief expression, sometimes a single word, but usually two or more words forming an expression by themselves, or being a portion of a sentence; as, an adverbial phrase.  [1913 Webster]

  "“Convey” the wise it call. “Steal!” foh! a fico for the phrase."  [1913 Webster]
•  A short, pithy expression; especially, one which is often employed; a peculiar or idiomatic turn of speech; as, to err is human.  [1913 Webster]
•  A mode or form of speech; the manner or style in which any one expreses himself; diction; expression.  Tennyson.  [1913 Webster]

  "Thou speak'st
  In better phrase and matter than thou didst."  [1913 Webster]
•  A short clause or portion of a period.  [1913 Webster]

  " A composition consists first of sentences, or periods; these are subdivided into sections, and these into phrases."  [1913 Webster]

Phrase book, a book of idiomatic phrases. J. S. Blackie.

Phrase, v. t. [Cf. F. phraser.].

 To express in words, or in peculiar words; to call; to style.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]

Phrase, v. i. 

•  To use proper or fine phrases.  [1913 Webster]
•  To group notes into phrases; as, he phrases well. See Phrase, n., 4.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Phrase, n. & v.
--n.
1 a group of words forming a conceptual unit, but not a sentence.
2 an idiomatic or short pithy expression.
3 a manner or mode of expression (a nice turn of phrase).
4 Mus. a group of notes forming a distinct unit within a larger piece.
--v.tr.
1 express in words (phrased the reply badly).
2 (esp. when reading aloud or speaking) divide (sentences etc.) into units so as to convey the meaning of the whole.
3 Mus. divide (music) into phrases etc. in performance.

Idiom

phrase book a book for tourists etc. listing useful expressions with their equivalent in a foreign language.

Derivative

phrasing n.

Etymology

earlier phrasis f. L f. Gk f. phrazo declare, tell

THESAURUS

Phrase

Parthian shot, adage, address, adjectival phrase, affirmation, allegation, ana, anacrusis, analects, answer, aphorism, apostrophe, apothegm, article, articulate, assertion, averment, axiom, back matter, bass passage, book, bourdon, breathe, bridge, burden, byword, cadence, catchword, chapter, chestnut, chime, choice of words, chorus, clause, cliche, coda, collected sayings, collocation, colloquialism, column, come out with, comment, commonplace, communicate, composition, conceive, convey, couch, couch in terms, crack, current saying, declaration, delineate, deliver, describe, development, dialect, dictate, diction, dictum, disclose, distich, division, embody in words, emit, enunciate, epigram, exclamation, exposition, express, expression, fascicle, figure, fling off, folderol, folio, formularize, formulate, formulation, frame, front matter, gathering, give, give expression, give expression to, give out with, give tongue, give utterance, give voice, give words to, glosseme, gnome, golden saying, grammar, greeting, harmonic close, icon, idiom, impart, installment, interjection, interlude, intermezzo, introductory phrase, language, leitmotiv, let out, lexeme, lexical form, lip, livraison, locution, manner of speaking, maxim, measure, mention, moral, morpheme, mot, motif, motive, motto, movement, musical phrase, musical sentence, note, noun phrase, number, observation, oracle, ornament, out with, page, paragraph, parlance, part, passage, period, phonate, phraseology, phrasing, pithy saying, platitude, position, pour forth, precept, prescript, present, pronounce, pronouncement, proverb, proverbial saying, proverbs, put, put forth, put in words, question, raise, reflection, refrain, remark, resolution, response, rhetoric, rhetorize, ritornello, saw, say, saying, section, semasiological unit, sememe, sentence, sententious expression, serial, set forth, set out, sheet, sign, signature, signifiant, significant, slogan, sloka, sound, speech, stanza, state, statement, stock saying, strain, style, subject, subjoinder, sutra, symbol, syntax, tailpiece, talk, teaching, tell, term, text, theme, thought, throw off, token, tutti, tutti passage, type, usage, use of words, usus loquendi, utter, utterance, variation, verb phrase, verbalize, verbiage, verse, vocabulary, vocalize, voice, volume, way of speaking, whisper, wisdom, wisdom literature, wise saying, witticism, word, word-group, wordage, wording, words of wisdom, write

ROGET THESAURUS

Phrase

Word

N word, term, vocable, name, phrase, root, etymon, derivative, part of speech, ideophone, dictionary, vocabulary, lexicon, glossary, index, concordance, thesaurus, gradus, delectus, etymology, derivation, glossology, terminology orismology, paleology, lexicography, glossographer, lexicologist, verbarian, verbal, literal, titular, nominal, conjugate, paronymous, derivative, verbally, verbatim, the artillery of words.

Phrase

N phrase, expression, set phrase, sentence, paragraph, figure of speech, idiom, idiotism, turn of expression, style, paraphrase, periphrase, motto, phraseology, expressed, idiomatic, in round terms, in set terms, in good set terms, set terms, in set phrases.

VB express, phrase, word, word it, give words to, give expression to, voice, arrange in words, clothe in words, put into words, express by words, couch in terms, find words to express, speak by the card, call, denominate, designate, dub.

Concord

N concord, accord, harmony, symphony, homologue, agreement, sympathy, empathy, response, union, unison, unity, bonds of harmony, peace, unanimity, league, happy family, rapprochement, reunion, amity, alliance, entente cordiale, good understanding, conciliation, peacemaker, intercessor, mediator, concordant, congenial, agreeing, in accord, harmonious, united, cemented, banded together, allied, friendly, fraternal, conciliatory, at one with, of one mind, at peace, in still water, tranquil, with one voice, in concert with, hand in hand, on one's side, commune periculum concordiam parit, melody concord, melody, rhythm, measure, rhyme, pitch, timbre, intonation, tone, scale, gamut, diapason, diatonic chromatic scale, enharmonic scale, key, clef, chords, modulation, temperament, syncope, syncopation, preparation, suspension, resolution, staff, stave, line, space, brace, bar, rest, appoggiato, appoggiatura, acciaccatura, note, musical note, notes of a scale, sharp, flat, natural, high note, low note, interval, semitone, second, third, fourth, diatessaron, breve, semibreve, minim, crotchet, quaver, semiquaver, demisemiquaver, hemidemisemiquaver, sustained note, drone, burden, tonic, key note, leading note, fundamental note, supertonic, mediant, dominant, submediant, subdominant, octave, tetrachord, major key, minor key, major scale, minor scale, major mode, minor mode, passage, phrase, concord, harmony, emmeleia, unison, unisonance, chime, homophony, euphony, euphonism, tonality, consonance, consent, part, harmony, harmonics, thorough-bass, fundamental-bass, counterpoint, faburden, piece of music, composer, harmonist, contrapuntist (musician), harmonious, harmonical, in concord, in tune, in concert, unisonant, concentual, symphonizing, isotonic, homophonous, assonant, ariose, consonant, measured, rhythmical, diatonic, chromatic, enharmonic, melodious, musical, melic, tuneful, tunable, sweet, dulcet, canorous, mellow, mellifluous, soft, clear, clear as a bell, silvery, euphonious, euphonic, euphonical, symphonious, enchanting fine-toned, full-toned, silver-toned, harmoniously, in harmony, as one, the hidden soul of harmony.

Metaphor

N metaphor, figure of speech, facon de parler, way of speaking, colloquialism, phrase, figure, trope, metaphor, enallage, catachresis, metonymy, synecdoche, autonomasia, irony, figurativeness, image, imagery, metalepsis, type, anagoge, simile, personification, prosopopoeia, allegory, apologue, parable, fable, allusion, adumbration, application, exaggeration, hyperbole, association, association of ideas (analogy), metaphorical, figurative, catachrestical, typical, tralatitious, parabolic, allegorical, allusive, anagogical, ironical, colloquial, tropical, so to speak, so to say, so to express oneself, as it were, mutato nomine de te fabula narratur.