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phrase
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- pronunciation:
- freIz
- parts of speech:
- noun, verb
- features:
- Word Explorer
| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition 1: |
A phrase is a group of words that have a meaning together. Phrases are not sentences, though. Phrases are like building blocks that we can put together to make sentences. Things like "in the kitchen" and "the boy next door" are phrases.
"Maybe later" is a phrase that Noah's mom says a lot.
- similar words:
- clause
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| definition 2: |
A phrase is a string of words that sends a special meaning that is different from the meaning of the words themselves. If someone says "Don't worry about what happened. It's water under the bridge now," they are using a phrase--"It's water under the bridge"--which means that the thing people are talking about is in the past now and nobody cares about it anymore.
Sometimes people use the phrase "It's not rocket science." When people say this, they mean that something is not difficult to do or understand. They might say, "I"m sure you can figure out the instructions yourself. It's not rocket science." This phrase, "It's not rocket science," has this meaning because most people think that rocket science is something very complicated and difficult to understand. |
| definition 3: |
A phrase is a short thing that people say a lot and usually in the same way every time.
"Have a nice day!" is a common phrase in America.- synonyms:
- expression
- similar words:
- saying
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| definition 4: |
A phrase is a short unit or passage of music.
The pianist played that phrase perfectly.- similar words:
- line, melody, tune
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| related words: |
term |
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| part of speech: |
verb |
| inflections: |
phrases, phrasing, phrased |
| definition: |
When you phrase a careful answer to someone's question, it means that you answer the question using words that you chose carefully and put together in a careful way.
The doctor phrased his answer to the patient's question using words that he knew she would understand.Mrs. Haley knew she needed to write an apology to her friend, but she didn't know how to phrase it.- synonyms:
- word
- similar words:
- express, frame, put, style
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| related words: |
say |
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