idiom

3 syllables

Quick answer

As a noun, idiom means a manner of speaking, a mode of expression peculiar to a language, language family, or group of people.

Meanings of idiom

8 meanings

noun

A manner of speaking, a mode of expression peculiar to a language, language family, or group of people.
“In English, idiom requires the indefinite article in a phrase such as "she's an engineer", whereas in Spanish, idiom forbids it.”
“Some of the usage prescriptions improved clarity and were kept; others that yielded discordant violations of idiom were eventually revised.”
programmingA programming construct or phraseology that is characteristic of the language.
A language or language variety; specifically, a restricted dialect used in a given historical period, context etc.
“In the idiom of the day, they were sutlers, although today they'd probably be called vendors.”
An established phrasal expression whose meaning may not be deducible from the literal meanings of its component words.
“She often spoke in idioms, pining for salad days and complaining about pots calling the kettle black.”
An artistic style (for example, in art, architecture, or music); an instance of such a style.
“the idiom of the expressionists”
A manner of speaking that is natural to native speakers of a language
Similar: parlance
The usage or vocabulary that is characteristic of a specific group of people
“the immigrants spoke an odd dialect of English”
“he has a strong German accent”
“it has been said that a language is a dialect with an army and navy”
Similar: dialect, accent
The style of a particular artist or school or movement
“an imaginative orchestral idiom”
Similar: artistic style