n.
- a group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words (e.g. over the moon).
▸a form of expression natural to a language, person, or group.
- a characteristic mode of expression in music or art.
Derivative
- idiomatic adj.
- idiomatically adv.
Etymology
C16: from Fr. idiome, or via late L. from Gk idiōma ‘private property’.