expression

[ik-spresh-uhn]

noun

1. the act of expressing or setting forth in words.

   the free expression of political opinions.

   Synonyms: statement, assertion, declaration, utterance

2. a particular word, phrase, or form of words.

   old-fashioned expressions.

   Synonyms: idiom, term

3. the manner or form in which a thing is expressed in words; wording; phrasing.

   delicacy of expression.

   Synonyms: phraseology, diction, language

4. the power of expressing in words.

   joy beyond expression.

5. indication of feeling, spirit, character, etc., as on the face, in the voice, or in artistic execution.

   the lyric expression embodied in his poetry.

   Synonyms: sign, manifestation

6. a look or intonation expressing personal reaction, feeling, etc..

   a shocked expression.

   Synonyms: air, aspect

7. the quality or power of expressing an attitude, emotion, etc..

   a face that lacks expression; to read with expression.

8. the act of expressing or representing, as by symbols.

9. Mathematics.,  a symbol or a combination of symbols representing a value, relation, or the like.

10. Linguistics.,  the stylistic characteristics of an utterance (meaning ).

11. Linguistics.,  the system of verbal utterances specific to a language (content ).

12. the act of expressing or pressing out.

13. Computers.,  a combination of variables, constants, and functions linked by operation symbols and any required punctuation that describe a rule for calculating a value.

14. Genetics.

    1. the action of a gene in the production of a protein or a phenotype.

    2. expressivity.

expression

/ ɪkˈsprɛʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of transforming ideas into words

2. a manifestation of an emotion, feeling, etc, without words

   tears are an expression of grief

3. communication of emotion through music, painting, etc

4. a look on the face that indicates mood or emotion

   a joyful expression

5. the choice of words, phrases, syntax, intonation, etc, in communicating

6. a particular phrase used conventionally to express something

   a dialect expression

7. the act or process of forcing or squeezing out a liquid

8. maths a variable, function, or some combination of constants, variables, or functions

9. genetics the effect of a particular gene on the phenotype

Other Word Forms

• expressional adjective
• expressionlessly adverb
• expressionless adjective
• preexpression noun
• reexpression noun
• superexpression noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of expression¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Latin expressiōn- (stem of expressiō ) “a pressing out.” See express, -ion

Synonym Study

See phrase.

Example Sentences

“From the outset, this suit was an affront to all artists and their creative expression and never should have seen the light of day,” the company said.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

“The most common meaning is a vacant expression a Gen Zer gives in response to a question,” a NBC report explained.

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Elordi trained in Butoh, known as the Japanese dance of darkness, so his body could capture the painful expression of the creature.

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But Mr. Johnson, despite looking like a different man under prosthetics and a mop of curly hair, isn’t especially impressive, continuing to exhibit very little mastery of either facial expressions or voice.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Wales added, “The First Amendment is very, very strong in the U.S.…and so that fundamental right of our community of freedom of expression is well protected in the U.S.”

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• definition 
• explanation 
• interpretation 
• language 
• phrase 
• remark 
• speech 
• statement 
• style 
• term 
• voice 
• word