noun

1. a manner or style of speech or expression; phraseology
2. a short, colorful or forceful expression
3. a connected series of movements in a formal dance
4. Gram. a sequence of two or more words conveying a single thought or forming a distinct part of a sentence but not containing a subject and predicate
5. Linguis. a group of words that functions as a syntactic unit
6. Music a short, distinct part or passage, usually of two, four, or eight measures

Etymology: L phrasis, diction < Gr < phrazein, to speak

transitive verb, intransitive verb phrased, phrasing phras′·ing

1. to express in words or in a phrase
2. Music to mark off or divide (notes) into phrases