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express definition

ex·press (ek spres, ik-)

transitive verb

  1. to press out or squeeze out (juice, etc.)
  2. to get by pressure; elicit by force; extort
  3. to put into words; represent by language; state
    1. to make known; reveal; show his face expressed sorrow
    2. to show (a genetic trait)
  4. to picture, represent, or symbolize in music, art, etc.
  5. to show by sign; symbolize; signify the sign + expresses addition
  6. ☆ to send by express

Etymology: ME expressen < ML expressare < L expressus, pp. of exprimere, to express, lit., force out < ex-, out + premere: see press

adjective

    1. expressed and not implied; explicit to give express orders
    2. specific his express reason for going
  1. exact she is the express image of her aunt
  2. made for or suited to a special purpose express regulations
  3. Etymology: orig., for the express purpose of running to one station

    fast, direct, and making few stops an express train
  4. characterized by speed or velocity; specif.,
    1. for fast driving an express highway
    2. high-speed an express bullet
    3. for high-speed projectiles an express rifle
    4. having to do with railway express, pony express, etc.

Etymology: ME & OFr expres < L expressus

adverb

by express

noun

  1. Chiefly Brit.
    1. a special messenger; courier
    2. a message delivered by such a messenger; dispatch sent swiftly
    1. an express train, bus, elevator, etc.
    2. an express rifle
  2. the pony express
    1. a method or service for transporting goods or sending money or mail rapidly, but at extra cost
    2. the goods transported or money sent by express
    3. a business concern operating such a service
  3. any method or means of swift transmission

Related Forms:

express Idioms

express oneself

  1. to state one's thoughts
  2. to give expression to one's feelings, imagination, etc., in creative or artistic activity

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:
express Synonyms

express

modif.

  1. Explicit

    definite, specific, clearly stated; see definite 1, 2.

  2. Fast

    nonstop, direct, high-speed; see direct 1, fast 1. See syn. study at explicit.


express

v.

  1. To put into words

    state, utter, declare, verbalize, word, phrase, formulate, couch; see also communicate 1, utter.

  2. To make known

    reveal, show, manifest; see display 1, expose 1, prove.

  3. To symbolize

    represent, signify, denote; see mean 1, represent 3.

  4. To send by rapid conveyor

    dispatch, forward, ship; see send 1. See syn. study at utter.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

express Usage Examples

Object

  • opinion: Any opinions expressed are subject to change without notice.

Subject

  • author: The views expressed by the author are not necessarily those of the commissioning or funding bodies.

Preposition: as

  • percentage: Figure 3. Loss of mass and uptake of water during polymer degradation, expressed as a percentage of the original mass of each sample.

Modifies a noun

  • permission: No form of alcohol is allowed on board without the express permission of Stuart Line Cruises.

Preposition: in

  • chaper: The views expressed in this chaper do not necessarily reflect the views of the members of the CAIN Project.

Preposition: by

  • contributor: Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of Patient and Public Involvement Forum Organization.
express usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

express quotes

Conversation is never easy for the British, who are never keen to express themselves to strangers or, for that matter, anyone, even themselves.

-Bradbury, Malcolm Stanley

I do not write for money or fame† One writes because one has a burning desire to objectify what it is indispensible to one's happiness to express.

-Moore, Marianne Craig

I know more than I can express in words, and the little I can express would not have been expressed, had I not known more.

-Nabokov,Vladimir

express quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"express." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/express>

APA Style

express. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/express

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