phrasal verb

noun

, Grammar.

1. a combination of verb and one or more adverbial or prepositional particles, as catch on, take off, bring up, or put up with, functioning as a single semantic unit and often having an idiomatic meaning that could not be predicted from the meanings of the individual parts.

phrasal verb

noun

1. (in English grammar) a phrase that consists of a verb plus an adverbial or prepositional particle, esp one the meaning of which cannot be deduced by analysis of the meaning of the constituents

   ``take in'' meaning ``deceive'' is a phrasal verb

Word History and Origins

Origin of phrasal verb¹

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

My sentimental favorite is actually a phrasal verb: "lean in."

From Wall Street Journal