• enPR: frāz, IPA: /fɹeɪz/

phrase (plural phrases)

1. A short written or spoken expression.
2. (grammar) A word or group of words that functions as a single unit in the syntax of a sentence, usually consisting of a head, or central word, and elaborating words.
3. (music) A small section of music in a larger piece.
4. (archaic) A mode or form of speech; diction; expression.
   • 1847, Alfred Tennyson, The Princess: A Medley, London: Edward Moxon, […], OCLC 2024748 ↗, (please specify ):

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     phrases of the hearth

   • c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act IV, scene vi]:

     Thou speak'st / In better phrase and matter than thou didst.

• (expression) figure of speech, locution
• See also Thesaurus:phrase

• French: expression, locution
• German: Redewendung, Phrase
• Italian: espressione, polirematica
• Portuguese: expressão, frase
• Russian: фра́за
• Spanish: expresión, frase

• French: syntagme, phrase (sentence)
• German: Phrase
• Italian: locuzione, polirematica, frase
• Portuguese: locução, sintagma
• Russian: словосочета́ние
• Spanish: sintagma

• French: phrase
• German: Phrase
• Italian: frase
• Portuguese: frase
• Russian: фра́за
• Spanish: frase

phrase (phrases, present participle phrasing; past and past participle phrased)

1. (transitive) To express (an action, thought or idea) by means of particular words.

   I wasn't sure how to phrase my condolences without sounding patronising.

   • 1613, William Shakespeare; [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act I, scene i]:

     These suns — for so they phrase 'em.

2. (intransitive, music) To perform a passage with the correct phrasing.
3. (transitive, music) To divide into melodic phrases.

• paraphrase
• rephrase

• French: exprimer, formuler
• German: formulieren
• Italian: esprimere, redigere
• Portuguese: exprimir, expressar
• Spanish: formular, expresar, frasear

• French: phraser