ex·press
(ĭk-sprĕś)
[Middle English expressen, from Old French expresser, from Medieval Latin expressāre, frequentative of Latin exprimere, ex-, ex-, + premere, to press.]
transitive verb: -pressed, -press·ing, -press·es.
- To set forth in words; state.
- To manifest or communicate, as by a gesture; show. See synonyms at vent1
- To make known the feelings or opinions of (oneself), as by statement or art.
- To convey or suggest a representation of; depict: The painting expresses the rage of war victims.
- To represent by a sign or a symbol; symbolize: express a fraction as a decimal.
- To squeeze or press out, as juice from an orange.
- To send by special messenger or rapid transport: express a package to Los Angeles.
- Genetics
- To cause (itself) to produce an effect or a phenotype. Used of a gene: The gene expressed itself under specific environmental conditions.
- To manifest the effects of (a gene): Half of the people who inherit the gene express it.
- To manifest (a genetic trait): All the mice in the study expressed the defect.
adjective
- Definitely and explicitly stated: their express wish. See synonyms at explicit
- Particular; specific: an express plan.
- Sent out with or moving at high speed.
- Direct, rapid, and usually nonstop: express delivery of packages; an express bus.
- Of, relating to, or appropriate for rapid travel: express lanes on a freeway.
adverb
- By express delivery or transport.
noun
- A rapid, efficient system for the delivery of goods and mail.
- Goods and mail conveyed by such a system.
- A means of transport, such as a train, that travels rapidly and makes few or no stops before its destination.
- Chiefly British
- A special messenger.
- A message delivered by special courier.
derivatives
- ex·presśer
- noun
- ex·presśi·ble
- adjective
