phrase

Universal Words noun, verb noun 1 (grammar) a group of words without a FINITE verb, especially one that forms part of a sentence. 'the green car' and 'on Friday morning' are phrases. seealsoNOUNPHRASE 2 a group of words which have a particular meaning when used together: a memorable / famous phrase * She was, in her own favourite phrase, 'a woman without a past'. seealsoCATCHPHRASE 3 (music) a short series of notes that form a unit within a longer passage in a piece of music IDIOMS see COINv., TURNn. verb 1 [VN] ~ sth (as sth) to say or write sth in a particular way: a carefully phrased remark * I agree with what he says, but I'd have phrased it differently. * Her order was phrased as a suggestion. * She phrased the explanation in very simple terms. 2 [V, VN] to divide a piece of music into small groups of notes; to play or sing these in a particular way, especially in an effective way