phrase

B1 Topic:Language & Linguistics

US /fɹeɪz/ See IPA manual

Freq #5392

Meanings

1

noun
A group of words that go together and act as a unit, but do not form a full sentence.

"In the morning" is a common phrase used to talk about time.
2

noun
A short expression or set way of saying something.

"Break a leg" is a phrase that means good luck.
3

verb
To express something in a particular choice of words.

I wasn't sure how to phrase my apology without sounding rude.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 noun · a short expression or set... idiom locution

More expression

Word family

Forms phrasedphrasesphrasing

Derived forms bombard-phrasebuzz-phrasecatch-phrasecatchphrasecounterphraseinterphrasekeyphrasemidphrasemisphrasepassphrasephrasablephrasal

Related forms paraphraserephrase

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

nominal phrase
a phrase functioning like a noun as a subject or object

Adjective + noun

Etymology

From Late Latin phrasis (“diction”), from Ancient Greek φράσις (phrásis, “manner of expression”), from φράζω (phrázō, “to tell, express”).

phrasis la-lat φράσις Ancient Greek

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Language & Linguistics Actions & Processes

External links

# phrase

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /fɹeɪz/
**Frequency rank:** 5392

## Meanings
1. A group of words that go together and act as a unit, but do not form a full sentence.
2. A short expression or set way of saying something.
3. To express something in a particular choice of words.

## Examples
- "In the morning" is a common phrase used to talk about time.
- "Break a leg" is a phrase that means good luck.
- I wasn't sure how to phrase my apology without sounding rude.

## Synonyms
- expression

## Derived Forms
- bombard-phrase
- buzz-phrase
- catch-phrase
- catchphrase
- counterphrase
- interphrase
- keyphrase
- midphrase
- misphrase
- passphrase
- phrasable
- phrasal

## Related Forms
- paraphrase
- rephrase

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: phrasis
- Root: φράσις

## Etymology
From Late Latin phrasis (“diction”), from Ancient Greek φράσις (phrásis, “manner of expression”), from φράζω (phrázō, “to tell, express”).

## AI Etymology
Phrase comes from Late Latin phrasis (“diction”), from Ancient Greek φράσις (phrásis, “manner of expression”), from φράζω (phrázō, “to tell, express”). The historical chain includes phrasis (la-lat), φράσις (Ancient Greek). In present-day English it covers a group of words that go together and act as a unit, but do not form a full sentence, a short expression or set way of saying something, and to express something in a particular choice of words. The wider family includes derived forms such as bombard-phrase, buzz-phrase, catch-phrase, catchphrase, counterphrase and related forms such as paraphrase, rephrase.

## Topics
- Language & Linguistics
- Actions & Processes

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