pe·riph·ra·sis /pəˈrɪfrəsɪs/ noun (plural periphrases /-siːz/) [countableC, uncountableU] 1. AL formal when someone uses long words or phrases that are not necessary 语言繁冗 2. technicalSLG the use of auxiliary words instead of inflected forms 迂说法〔用助动词而不用屈折变化的表达法〕 —periphrastic /ˌperəˈfræstɪk◂/ adjectiveadj