Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • transitive verb To set forth in words; state.
  • transitive verb To manifest or communicate, as by a gesture; show: synonym: voice.
  • transitive verb To make known the feelings or opinions of (oneself), as by statement or art.
  • transitive verb To convey or suggest a representation of; depict.
  • transitive verb To represent by a sign, symbol, number, or formula.
  • transitive verb To squeeze or press out, as juice from an orange.
  • transitive verb To send by special messenger or rapid transport.
  • transitive verb To synthesize (a product, especially a protein) encoded by a gene.
  • transitive verb To manifest the effects of (a gene).
  • transitive verb To manifest (a genetic trait).
  • adjective Definitely and explicitly stated: synonym: explicit.
  • adjective Particular; specific.
  • adjective Rapid and having few or no stops or interruptions.
  • adjective Of, relating to, or appropriate for rapid travel.
  • adjective Designed for use in an express rifle.
  • adverb By express delivery or transport.
  • noun A rapid, efficient system for the delivery of goods and mail.
  • noun Goods and mail conveyed by such a system.
  • noun A means of transport, such as a train, that travels rapidly and makes few or no stops before its destination.
  • noun A special messenger.
  • noun A message delivered by special courier.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To press or squeeze out; force out by pressure: as, to express the juice of grapes or of apples.
  • To extort; elicit.
  • To manifest or exhibit by speech, appearance, or action; make known in any way, but especially by spoken or written words.
  • Reflexively, to utter one's thoughts; make known one's opinions or feelings: as, to express one's self properly.
  • To manifest in semblance; constitute a copy or resemblance of; be like; resemble.
  • To represent or show by imitation or the imitative arts; form a likeness of, as in painting or sculpture.
  • To denote; designate.
  • To send express; despatch by express; forward by special opportunity or through the medium of an express: as, to express a letter, a package, or merchandise.
  • In mathematics, to give or represent by means of a figure, graph, symbol, or function.
  • Expressly; distinctly; plainly.
  • Specially; for a particular purpose.
  • As an express—that is, with special swiftness or expedition; post-haste; post: as, to travel express.
  • Clearly made known; distinctly expressed or indicated; unambiguous; explicit; direct; plain: as, express terms; an express interference.
  • Distinctly like; closely representative; bearing an exact resemblance.
  • Distinctly adapted or suitable; particular; exact; precise: as, he made express provision for my comfort.
  • Special; used or employed for a particular purpose; specially quick or direct: as, express haste; an express messenger.
  • noun A clear or distinct declaration, expression, or manifestation.
  • noun A particular or special message or despatch sent by a messenger.
  • noun A messenger sent on a particular errand or occasion; usually, a courier sent to communicate information of an important event, or to deliver important despatches.
  • noun Any regular provision made for the speedy transmission of messages, parcels, commissions, and the like; a vehicle or other conveyance sent on a special message; specifically, an organization of means for safe and speedy transmission of merchandise, etc., or a railway passenger-train which travels at a specially high rate of speed, stopping only at principal stations: as, the American and European Express; to travel by express.
  • noun The name of a modern sporting-rifle, a modification of the Winchester model of 1876.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun obsolete A clear image or representation; an expression; a plain declaration.
  • noun A messenger sent on a special errand; a courier; hence, a regular and fast conveyance; commonly, a company or system for the prompt and safe transportation of merchandise or parcels.
  • noun An express office.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English expressen, from Old French expresser, from Medieval Latin expressāre, frequentative of Latin exprimere : ex-, ex- + premere, to press; see per- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From French exprès, from Latin expressus, past participle of exprimere (see Etymology 2, below).

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Old French espresser, expresser, from frequentative form of Latin exprimere.

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Examples

  • If the law pronounced him the master, _nibû_, to whom they owed obedience and fidelity, they were mistresses of the house, _nîbît pirû_, as well as wives, _himitû_, and the two words of the title express their condition.

    History Of Egypt, Chaldæa, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, Volume 1 (of 12) M. L. McClure 1881

  • Another theme which I hardly know how to express is to do with considering the extremes.

    Revisiting Visions « Beki's Blog (there's an original name) 2009

  • Travel advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office warns that street crime is high, and that armed robbery, and what it calls "express kidnappings" - short-term abductions to extort money - also take place, and that tourists have been among those targeted; resistance to robbers had resulted in people being shot dead, it added.

    Briton shot dead by robbers in Venezuela 2011

  • Over the years, Quaker has expanded its oatmeal offering to include what it calls express oatmeal in microwaveable cups and oatmeal-to-go bars.

    For Eateries, Oatmeal Is Hotter 2008

  • We even express kidnappings, what we call express kidnappings, when the individual is grabbed on the other side of the border, held in the trunk of the car for 24 hours while they deplete the bank account with a credit card.

    CNN Transcript Jan 31, 2005 2005

  • The second point that I'd like to kind of express is some idea of how these things happen.

    Canada After September 11 2001

  • I again express my profound thanks and appreciation to all of you dear people.

    Check for parasites 2009

  • I again express my profound thanks and appreciation to all of you dear people.

    Check for parasites 2009

  • I again express my profound thanks and appreciation to all of you dear people.

    Check for parasites 2009

  • I again express my profound thanks and appreciation to all of you dear people.

    Check for parasites 2009

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