Dictionary
ex•pres•sion
Pronunciation: (ik-spresh'un), [key]—
n.
1. the act of expressing or setting forth in words:
the free expression of political opinions.
2. a particular word, phrase, or form of words:
old-fashioned expressions.
3. the manner or form in which a thing is expressed in words; wording; phrasing:
delicacy of expression.
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.
6. a look or intonation expressing personal reaction, feeling, etc.:
a shocked expression.
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. Math.a symbol or a combination of symbols representing a value, relation, or the like.
10. Ling.the stylistic characteristics of an utterance (opposed to
meaning).
11. Ling.the system of verbal utterances specific to a language (opposed to
content).
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.
a. the action of a gene in the production of a protein or a phenotype.
b. expressivity (def. 2).
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
