paraphrase
[ par-uh-freyz ]
/ ˈpær əˌfreɪz /
noun
a restatement of a text or passage giving the meaning in another form, as for clearness; rewording.
the act or process of restating or rewording.
verb (used with object), par·a·phrased, par·a·phras·ing.
to render the meaning of in a paraphrase: to paraphrase a technical paper for lay readers.
verb (used without object), par·a·phrased, par·a·phras·ing.
to make a paraphrase or paraphrases.
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Origin of paraphrase
SYNONYMS FOR paraphrase
1 See translation.
3 summarize; explain.
OTHER WORDS FROM paraphrase
par·a·phras·a·ble, adjectivepar·a·phras·er, nounmis·par·a·phrase, verb, mis·par·a·phrased, mis·par·a·phras·ing.un·par·a·phrased, adjectiveWords nearby paraphrase
paraphasia, paraphernalia, paraphia, paraphilia, paraphimosis, paraphrase, paraphrasis, paraphrast, paraphrastic, paraphyletic, paraphysis
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for paraphrase
British Dictionary definitions for paraphrase
paraphrase
/ (ˈpærəˌfreɪz) /
noun
an expression of a statement or text in other words, esp in order to clarify
the practice of making paraphrases
verb
to put (something) into other words; restate (something)
Derived forms of paraphrase
paraphrastic (ˌpærəˈfræstɪk), adjectiveWord Origin for paraphrase
C16: via French from Latin paraphrasis, from Greek, from paraphrazein to recount
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Cultural definitions for paraphrase
paraphrase
A restatement of speech or writing that retains the basic meaning while changing the words. A paraphrase often clarifies the original statement by putting it into words that are more easily understood.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.