/ ˈpærəfreɪz; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
to express what sb has said or written using different words, especially in order to make it easier to understand :
[ vn ]
Try to paraphrase the question before you answer it.
[also v ]
■ noun
a statement that expresses sth that sb has written or said using different words, especially in order to make it easier to understand
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent. (as a noun): via Latin from Greek paraphrasis , from paraphrazein , from para- (expressing modification) + phrazein tell.