PHRASE
Dictionary entry overview: What does phrase mean?
• PHRASE (noun)
The noun PHRASE has 4 senses:
1. an expression consisting of one or more words forming a grammatical constituent of a sentence
2. a short musical passage
3. an expression whose meanings cannot be inferred from the meanings of the words that make it up
4. dance movements that are linked in a single choreographic sequence
Familiarity information: PHRASE used as a noun is uncommon.
• PHRASE (verb)
The verb PHRASE has 2 senses:
1. put into words or an expression
2. divide, combine, or mark into phrases
Familiarity information: PHRASE used as a verb is rare.
Dictionary entry details
• PHRASE (noun)
Meaning:
An expression consisting of one or more words forming a grammatical constituent of a sentence
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Hypernyms ("phrase" is a kind of...):
construction; expression; grammatical construction (a group of words that form a constituent of a sentence and are considered as a single unit)
Meronyms (parts of "phrase"):
head word; headword (a word that is qualified by a modifier)
modifier; qualifier (a content word that qualifies the meaning of a noun or verb)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "phrase"):
nominal; nominal phrase; noun phrase (a phrase that can function as the subject or object of a verb)
predicate; verb phrase (one of the two main constituents of a sentence; the predicate contains the verb and its complements)
prepositional phrase (a phrase beginning with a preposition)
pronominal; pronominal phrase (a phrase that functions as a pronoun)
response (a phrase recited or sung by the congregation following a versicle by the priest or minister)
catch phrase; catchphrase (a phrase that has become a catchword)
Meaning:
A short musical passage
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Synonyms:
musical phrase; phrase
Hypernyms ("phrase" is a kind of...):
musical passage; passage (a short section of a musical composition)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "phrase"):
ostinato (a musical phrase repeated over and over during a composition)
ligature ((music) a group of notes connected by a slur)
Holonyms ("phrase" is a part of...):
air; line; melodic line; melodic phrase; melody; strain; tune (a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence)
Meaning:
An expression whose meanings cannot be inferred from the meanings of the words that make it up
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Synonyms:
set phrase; idiomatic expression; phrasal idiom; phrase; idiom
Hypernyms ("phrase" is a kind of...):
expression; locution; saying (a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations)
Domain member usage:
out of whack (out of balance or out of adjustment)
in the lurch (in a difficult or vulnerable position)
like clockwork (with regularity and precision)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "phrase"):
ruralism; rusticism (a rural idiom or expression)
Meaning:
Dance movements that are linked in a single choreographic sequence
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("phrase" is a kind of...):
dance; dancing; saltation; terpsichore (taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music)
• PHRASE (verb)
Meaning:
Put into words or an expression
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Synonyms:
give voice; phrase; word; articulate; formulate
Context example:
He formulated his concerns to the board of trustees
Hypernyms (to "phrase" is one way to...):
evince; express; show (give expression to)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "phrase"):
ask (direct or put; seek an answer to)
lexicalise; lexicalize (make or coin into a word or accept a new word into the lexicon of a language)
dogmatise; dogmatize (state as a dogma)
formularise; formularize (express as a formula)
cast; couch; frame; put; redact (formulate in a particular style or language)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Divide, combine, or mark into phrases
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Context example:
phrase a musical passage
Hypernyms (to "phrase" is one way to...):
arrange; order; put; set up (arrange thoughts, ideas, temporal events)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
