[phrase] n [L phrasis, fr. Gk, fr. phrazein to point out, explain, tell] (1530) 1: a characteristic manner or style of expression: diction
2. a: a brief expression; esp: catchword b: word
3: a short musical thought typically two to four measures long closing with a cadence
4: a word or group of words forming a syntactic constituent with a single grammatical function "an adverbial ~"
5: a series of dance movements comprising a section of a pattern
[2]phrase vt phrased ; phras.ing (1570) 1 a: to express in words or in appropriate or telling terms b: to designate by a descriptive word or phrase
2: to divide into melodic phrases