to put (thought) into words; utter or state: to express an idea clearly.
to show, manifest, or reveal: to express one's anger.
to set forth the opinions, feelings, etc., of (oneself), as in speaking, writing, or painting: He can express himself eloquently.
to represent by a symbol, character, figure, or formula: to express water as H2O; to express unknown quantities algebraically.
to send by express: to express a package or merchandise.
to press or squeeze out: to express the juice of grapes.
to exude or emit (a liquid, odor, etc.), as if under pressure: The roses expressed a sweet perfume.
Genetics. (of a gene) to be active in the production of (a protein or a phenotype).
adjective
clearly indicated; distinctly stated; definite; explicit; plain: He defied my express command.
special; definite: We have an express purpose in being here.
direct or fast, especially making few or no intermediate stops: an express train; an express elevator.
used for direct or high-speed travel: an express highway.
duly or exactly formed or represented: an express image.
pertaining to an express: an express agency.
noun
an express train, bus, elevator, etc.
a system or method of sending freight, parcels, money, etc., that is faster and safer, but more expensive, than ordinary freight service: We agree to send the package by express.
late 14c., from Old French espresser "press, squeeze out; speak one's mind" (Modern French exprimer), Medieval Latin expressare, frequentative of exprimere "represent, describe," literally "to press out" (source of Italian espresso; the sense evolution here is perhaps via an intermediary sense of something like "clay that takes under pressure takes the form of an image"), from ex- "out" (see ex-) + pressare "to press, push," from Latin premere (see press (v.1)). Related: Expressed; expresses; expressing.
express
adj.
late 14c., from Old French expres, from Latin expressus "clearly presented," past participle of exprimere (see express (v.)). This led to the noun (first attested 1610s) meaning "special messenger." Sense of "business or system for sending money or parcels" is 1794. An express train (1841) originally ran to a certain station.
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