head word, headword - a word that is qualified by a modifier

grammatical construction, construction, expression - a group of words that form a constituent of a sentence and are considered as a single unit; "I concluded from his awkward constructions that he was a foreigner"

noun phrase - a phrase that can function as the subject or object of a verb

verb phrase, predicate - one of the two main constituents of a sentence; the predicate contains the verb and its complements

prepositional phrase - a phrase beginning with a preposition

pronominal phrase - a phrase that functions as a pronoun

modifier, qualifier - a content word that qualifies the meaning of a noun or verb

response - a phrase recited or sung by the congregation following a versicle by the priest or minister

catch phrase, catchphrase - a phrase that has become a catchword

melodic line, melodic phrase, melody, tune, strain, air, line - a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence; "she was humming an air from Beethoven"

musical passage, passage - a short section of a musical composition

ligature - (music) a group of notes connected by a slur

ostinato - a musical phrase repeated over and over during a composition

locution, saying, expression - a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations; "pardon the expression"

ruralism, rusticism - a rural idiom or expression

in the lurch - in a difficult or vulnerable position; "he resigned and left me in the lurch"

like clockwork - with regularity and precision; "the rocket launch went off like clockwork"

ask - direct or put; seek an answer to; "ask a question"

evince, express, show - give expression to; "She showed her disappointment"

lexicalise, lexicalize - make or coin into a word or accept a new word into the lexicon of a language; "The concept expressed by German `Gemuetlichkeit' is not lexicalized in English"

dogmatise, dogmatize - state as a dogma

formularise, formularize - express as a formula

couch, redact, put, frame, cast - formulate in a particular style or language; "I wouldn't put it that way"; "She cast her request in very polite language"