Other

idiom

Syllabification: (id·i·om)

Pronunciation: /ˈidēəm/

Translate idiom | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish

Definition of idiom

noun

1a group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words (e.g., rain cats and dogs, see the light).
a form of expression natural to a language, person, or group of people:he had a feeling for phrase and idiom
the dialect of a people or part of a country.

2a characteristic mode of expression in music or art:they were both working in a neo-impressionist idiom

Origin:

late 16th century: from French idiome, or via late Latin from Greek idiōma 'private property, peculiar phraseology', from idiousthai 'make one's own', from idios 'own, private'

idiom in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of idiom in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

More words in this category

Subscriber login

Library card login