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express

[ik-spres]
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verb (used with object)
  1. to put (thought) into words; utter or state: to express an idea clearly.
  2. to show, manifest, or reveal: to express one's anger.
  3. to set forth the opinions, feelings, etc., of (oneself), as in speaking, writing, or painting: He can express himself eloquently.
  4. to represent by a symbol, character, figure, or formula: to express water as H2O; to express unknown quantities algebraically.
  5. to send by express: to express a package or merchandise.
  6. to press or squeeze out: to express the juice of grapes.
  7. to exude or emit (a liquid, odor, etc.), as if under pressure: The roses expressed a sweet perfume.
  8. Genetics. (of a gene) to be active in the production of (a protein or a phenotype).
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adjective
  1. clearly indicated; distinctly stated; definite; explicit; plain: He defied my express command.
  2. special; definite: We have an express purpose in being here.
  3. direct or fast, especially making few or no intermediate stops: an express train; an express elevator.
  4. used for direct or high-speed travel: an express highway.
  5. duly or exactly formed or represented: an express image.
  6. pertaining to an express: an express agency.
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noun
  1. an express train, bus, elevator, etc.
  2. 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.
  3. a company engaged in this business.
  4. British. a messenger or a message specially sent.
  5. something sent by express.
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adverb
  1. by express: to travel express.
  2. Obsolete. expressly.
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Origin of express

1275–1325; Middle English expressen < Latin expressus (past participle of exprimere). See ex-1, press1
Related formsex·press·er, ex·pres·sor, nounex·press·i·ble, adjectiveex·press·less, adjectiveo·ver·ex·press, verb (used with object)pre·ex·press, verb (used with object)qua·si-ex·pressed, adjectivere·ex·press, verb (used with object)su·per·ex·press, nounun·ex·press·i·ble, adjectivewell-ex·pressed, adjective

Synonyms

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1. declare, word, formulate. 2. indicate. 4. designate, signify, denote. 9. obvious, unambiguous. 10. particular, singular. 11. swift, rapid, nonstop. 13. accurate, precise. 16. courier.

Antonyms

2. conceal.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for expresses

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • It expresses the same transparent innocence, the same mild love.

    Philothea

    Lydia Maria Child

  • He expresses Himself through me; He expresses Himself through them; we all.

  • Occasionally it expresses the opinion only of its own members.

  • It expresses their nature and the Plains that made their nature.

    Johnny Bear

    E. T. Seton

  • When she is, as she expresses it, "moved to sin," nobody of her own colour can manage her.

    Things as They Are

    Amy Wilson-Carmichael

British Dictionary definitions for expresses

express

verb (tr)
  1. to transform (ideas) into words; utter; verbalize
  2. to show or reveal; indicatetears express grief
  3. to communicate (emotion, etc) without words, as through music, painting, etc
  4. to indicate through a symbol, formula, etc
  5. to force or squeeze outto express the juice from an orange
  6. to send by rapid transport or special messenger
  7. express oneself to communicate one's thoughts or ideas
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adjective (prenominal)
  1. clearly indicated or shown; explicitly statedan express wish
  2. done or planned for a definite reason or goal; particularan express purpose
  3. of, concerned with, or designed for rapid transportation of people, merchandise, mail, money, etcexpress delivery; an express depot
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noun
    1. a system for sending merchandise, mail, money, etc, rapidly
    2. merchandise, mail, etc, conveyed by such a system
    3. mainly US and Canadianan enterprise operating such a system
  2. Also called: express train a fast train stopping at none or only a few of the intermediate stations between its two termini
  3. See express rifle
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adverb
  1. by means of a special delivery or express deliveryit went express
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Derived Formsexpresser, nounexpressible, adjective

Word Origin

C14: from Latin expressus, literally: squeezed out, hence, prominent, from exprimere to force out, from ex- 1 + premere to press
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for expresses

express

v.

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.

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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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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
expresses in Medicine

express

(ĭk-sprĕs′)
v.
  1. To press or squeeze out.
  2. To produce a phenotype. Used of a gene.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.