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 ¹ ).
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 ( def 2 ).

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

Derived Forms

• exˈpressional, adjective
• exˈpressionlessly, adverb
• exˈpressionless, adjective

Other Words From

• ex·pression·al adjective
• ex·pression·less adjective
• ex·pression·less·ly adverb
• preex·pression noun
• reex·pression noun
• super·ex·pression 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

Even though the plant's DNA is consistent across these tissues, the expression of genes differs.

From Science Daily

From the melodic Sicilian ghosts of “The Godfather” by composer Nino Rota to the aching Eastern European love theme in “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” by Wojciech Kilar, his stories ooze with musical expression.

From Los Angeles Times

The researchers also found that the gene expression in these newly formed stem cells actually differs from their precursor cells.

From Science Daily

The only effective way to deal with Trump is to ridicule him, troll him and otherwise diminish him with expressions of disdain and contempt.

From Salon

In these samples, the researchers analysed gene expression rather than epigenetic markers.

From Science Daily

Related Words

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