0%

idiom

id·i·om
I i

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [id-ee-uh m]
    • /ˈɪd i əm/
    • /ˈɪd.i.əm/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [id-ee-uh m]
    • /ˈɪd i əm/

Definitions of idiom word

  • noun idiom an expression whose meaning is not predictable from the usual meanings of its constituent elements, as kick the bucket or hang one's head, or from the general grammatical rules of a language, as the table round for the round table, and that is not a constituent of a larger expression of like characteristics. 1
  • noun idiom a language, dialect, or style of speaking peculiar to a people. 1
  • noun idiom a construction or expression of one language whose parts correspond to elements in another language but whose total structure or meaning is not matched in the same way in the second language. 1
  • noun idiom the peculiar character or genius of a language. 1
  • noun idiom a distinct style or character, in music, art, etc.: the idiom of Bach. 1
  • noun idiom A 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). 1

Information block about the term

Origin of idiom

First appearance:

before 1565
One of the 32% oldest English words
1565-75; < Latin idiōma < Greek idíōma peculiarity, specific property equivalent to idiō- (variant stem of idioûsthai to make one's own, appropriate, verbal derivative of idiós; see idio-) + -ma noun suffix of result

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Idiom

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

idiom popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 89% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

idiom usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for idiom

noun idiom

  • patois — a regional form of a language, especially of French, differing from the standard, literary form of the language.
  • dialect — A dialect is a form of a language that is spoken in a particular area.
  • locution — a particular form of expression; a word, phrase, expression, or idiom, especially as used by a particular person, group, etc.
  • vernacular — (of language) native or indigenous (opposed to literary or learned).
  • phrase — Grammar. a sequence of two or more words arranged in a grammatical construction and acting as a unit in a sentence. (in English) a sequence of two or more words that does not contain a finite verb and its subject or that does not consist of clause elements such as subject, verb, object, or complement, as a preposition and a noun or pronoun, an adjective and noun, or an adverb and verb.

Antonyms for idiom

noun idiom

  • silence — absence of any sound or noise; stillness.
  • standard — something considered by an authority or by general consent as a basis of comparison; an approved model.

Top questions with idiom

  • what is an idiom?
  • what is a idiom?
  • what does idiom mean?
  • what is idiom?
  • what an idiom?
  • what does the idiom down to earth mean?
  • when pigs fly idiom?
  • what is the definition of idiom?
  • what does the idiom under the weather mean?
  • what does the idiom?
  • what is the meaning of idiom?
  • what is an idiom for kids?
  • what does the word idiom mean?
  • what is idiom mean?
  • what does the idiom bought the farm mean?

See also

Matching words

Was this page helpful?
Yes No
Thank you for your feedback! Tell your friends about this page
Tell us why?