expression - Wiktionary, the free dictionary (original) (raw)

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

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

Morphologically express +‎ -ion.

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.
  5. (mathematics) An arrangement of symbols denoting values, operations performed on them, and grouping symbols.
  6. (biology) The process of translating a gene into a protein.
  7. (programming) A piece of code in a high-level language that returns a value.
  8. A specific blend of whisky.
  9. (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.
  10. (music) The tone of voice or sound in music.
  11. (mostly preceded by with) Emotional involvement or engagement in a text read aloud rendered by the voice of the reciter or the reader.

particular way of phrasing an idea — see also locution

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”).

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