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expression - Wiktionary, the free dictionary

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

Borrowed from Middle French expression, from Late Latin expressiō, expressiōnem (“a pressing out”).

Morphologically express +‎ -ion.

  • IPA(key): /əkˈspɹɛʃ.n̩/, /ɛkˈspɹɛʃ.n̩/
  • Rhymes: -ɛʃən
  • Hyphenation: ex‧pres‧sion

expression (countable and uncountable, plural expressions)

  1. The action of expressing thoughts, ideas, feelings, etc.

    • 2025 October 11, Stephanie Zacharek, “The Astonishing Versatility of Diane Keaton”, in TIME‎[1]:

      There are lots of great actresses who dress beautifully, but in the modern day, nearly all of them use stylists. They may know what they like—when they’re presented with gowns and outfits, they’re perfectly equipped to say yes or no—but you rarely get the sense that what they’re wearing is a true expression of who they are.

  2. A particular way of phrasing an idea.
  3. A colloquialism or idiom.

    The expression "break a leg!" should not be taken literally.

  4. A facial appearance usually associated with an emotion.

    They stared at the newcomer with a puzzled expression.

    The best poker players can tell if the opponents have a good hand by looking at their expression.

    Her expression changed from joy to misery after realising her winning lottery ticket had expired.

    • 1967, Barbara Sleigh, Jessamy, Sevenoaks, Kent: Bloomsbury, published 1993, →ISBN, page 122:

      At any other time Jessamy would have laughed at the expressions that chased each other over his freckled face: crossness left over from his struggle with the baby; incredulity; distress; and finally delight.

    • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:expression.
  6. (mathematics) An arrangement of symbols denoting values, operations performed on them, and grouping symbols.
  7. (biology) The process of translating a gene into a protein.
  8. (programming) A piece of code in a high-level language that returns a value.
  9. A specific blend of whisky.
  10. (biology, manufacturing) The act of pressing or squeezing out.

    expression from a gland

    Breast milk expression can be achieved by hand or with a pump.

    However the mechanical expression of juice led to an improvement of the solutes extraction from mash.

  11. (music) The tone of voice or sound in music.
  12. (mostly preceded by with) Emotional involvement or engagement in a text read aloud rendered by the voice of the reciter or the reader.

    • 1849, Great Britain. Committee on Education, Minutes of the Committee of Council on Education; with appendices. 1847-8-9. England and Wales. Schools of Parochial Unions, etc, page 154:

      The number of children who could read with expression would be very small ; ...

    • 1864, Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons, Accounts and Papers of the House of Commons, page 170:

      I cannot say that all read with expression. Indeed , this power is hardly to be expected in young children . And though “ to read with expression ...

    • 1976, Aline D. Wolf, Tutoring is Caring: You Can Help Someone to Read, Parent Child Press
      Perhaps when you were learning to read , you were asked to stand and " read with expression " for your classmates  

    • 2010, Kimberly A. Henry, How Do I Teach this Kid to Read?: Teaching Literacy Skills to Young Children with Autism, from Phonics to Fluency, Future Horizons, →ISBN, page 72:

      To read with expression, readers must know when to pause appropriately, must know when to change their tone to reflect the emotions of different characters, ...

    • 2014, Edward Fry, Timothy Rasinski, High Frequency Word Phrases Level 3--Reading with Expression, Teacher Created Materials, →ISBN, page 43:

      Think of reading words like reading music. When you read with expression, your audience will understand and appreciate your “performance.” Name ...

particular way of phrasing an idea

colloquialism or idiom

facial appearance

mathematics: arrangement of symbols

(computing) a piece of code in a high-level language that returns a value

involvement in a text one reads aloud

Inherited from Middle French expression, borrowed from Latin expressiōnem (“a pressing out”).

  • IPA(key): /ɛk.spʁɛ.sjɔ̃/ ~ /ɛk.spʁe.sjɔ̃/, (informal) /ɛs.pʁe.sjɔ̃/

expression f (plural expressions)

  1. expression

From Latin expressiō, expressiōnem (“a pressing out”).

expression (plural expressiones)

  1. expression

Borrowed from Latin expressiō, expressiōnem (“a pressing out”).

expression f (plural expressions)

  1. (Jersey) expression