expression

plural expressions

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

   1 more example

   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.

   2025 October 11, Stephanie Zacharek, “The Astonishing Versatility of Diane Keaton”, in TIME, archived from the original on 14 Oct 2025

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

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

4. countableuncountableA facial appearance usually associated with an emotion.

   They stared at the newcomer with a puzzled expression.

   4 more examples

   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.

   Eustace gaped at him in amazement. When his urbanity dropped away from him, as now, he had an innocence of expression which was almost infantile. It was as if the world had never touched him at all.

   1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 9, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC

   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.

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

5. countableuncountablemathematicsAn arrangement of symbols denoting values, operations performed on them, and grouping symbols.
6. countableuncountablebiologyThe process of translating a gene into a protein.
7. countableuncountablecomputingA piece of code in a high-level language that returns a value.
8. countableuncountableA specific blend of whisky.
9. countableuncountablebiologyThe act of pressing or squeezing out.

   expression from a gland

   2 more examples

   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. countableuncountableentertainmentThe tone of voice or sound in music.
11. countableuncountablemostly preceded by withEmotional involvement or engagement in a text read aloud rendered by the voice of the reciter or the reader.

    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

    4 more examples

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

    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

    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 ...

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

    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, ...

    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

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

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