Expression

Pronunciation

[ik-spresh-uhn] Show IPA

Noun

1. the act of expressing or setting forth in words: the free expression of political opinions.

2. a particular word, phrase, or form of words: old-fashioned expressions.

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

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.

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

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 (opposed to meaning ).

11. Linguistics. the system of verbal utterances specific to a language (opposed to 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. a. the action of a gene in the production of a protein or a phenotype.

b. expressivity (def. 2).

Origin

1425–75; late ME < L expressiōn- (s. of expressiō) a pressing out. See express, -ion

Related forms

ex⋅pres⋅sion⋅al, adjective

ex⋅pres⋅sion⋅less, adjective

ex⋅pres⋅sion⋅less⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms

1. utterance, declaration, assertion, statement.

2. term, idiom. See phrase.

3. language, diction, phraseology.

4. manifestation, sign.

5. aspect, air.