phrasenoun [ C ]
uk/freɪz/us/freɪz/phrase noun [ C ] (GRAMMAR)
language a group of words that is part of, rather than the whole of, a sentence
Examples
- an adverbial phrase
- an adjectival phrase
- The phrase "a not unfamiliar situation" is an example of a double negative.
- The phrase "a hard frost" is a collocation.
- In grammar, an adjunct is an adverb or adverbial phrase that gives extra information in a sentence.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Linguistics: sentences & expressions
- anagram
- cliché
- cliché-ridden
- coin
- compound sentence
- concessive clause
- declarative sentence
- expression
- figure of speech
- fronting
- mission statement
- nugget
- phrasing
- proverb
- refrain
- relative clause
- simple sentence
- tail
- the operative word idiom
- war cry
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phrase noun [ C ] (EXPRESSION)
B1 a short group of words that are often used together and have a particular meaning:
We are governed, in Lord Hailsham's famous phrase, by an "elective dictatorship".
See also
phrase book
More examples
- I've just bought a dictionary of phrases, sayings and quotations.
- He used a rather obscure phrase and I can't remember what it was now.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Linguistics: sentences & expressions
- anagram
- cliché
- cliché-ridden
- coin
- compound sentence
- concessive clause
- declarative sentence
- expression
- figure of speech
- fronting
- mission statement
- nugget
- phrasing
- proverb
- refrain
- relative clause
- simple sentence
- tail
- the operative word idiom
- war cry
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phrase noun [ C ] (MUSIC)
specialized music a small group of notes forming a unit of a tune
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Beats or lengths of musical notes
- bar
- bar line
- beat
- crotchet
- eighth note
- half note
- measure
- minim
- octave
- pause
- quarter note
- quaver
- rest
- semibreve
- semiquaver
- sixteenth note
- time
- time signature
- timing
- whole note
phrasal
adjective /ˈfreɪ.zəl//ˈfreɪ.zəl/
phraseverb [ T usually + adv/prep ]
uk/freɪz/us/freɪz/to express something with a particular choice of words:
The declaration was carefully/cleverly/tactfully, etc. phrased.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Saying & uttering
- (your) every word idiom
- add
- articulate
- come
- come out with sth
- every
- fall
- find your voice idiom
- floor
- get sth in
- in words of one syllable idiom
- intone
- misspeak
- mouth
- speak
- string
- text
- think
- use
- utterance
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