Meaning & Definition of word "Metaphorical"

Metaphorical

/ˌmɛtəˈfɔːrɪkəl/

1. Relating to or characterized by metaphor; figurative rather than literal.
- Example: The author used a metaphorical approach to describe the protagonist's emotional journey.
2. Employing metaphor to convey meaning or to illustrate an idea.
- Example: Her metaphorical language made the complex concepts more accessible to the audience.
3. Symbolic in nature; representing something beyond the literal meaning.
- Example: The storm in the poem serves as a metaphorical representation of the character's inner turmoil.
4. Not literal; imaginative and often used in artistic contexts.
- Example: In his metaphorical painting, the melting clocks symbolize the fluidity of time.

Derived from the word 'metaphor', which comes from the Greek 'metaphora', meaning 'to transfer'.

metaphorical meaning:

A meaning that is not literal but symbolic.

metaphorical language:

Language that conveys meanings beyond the literal meanings of words.

metaphor:

A figure of speech in which a term is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable.

figurative:

Expressing one thing in terms normally denoting another with which it may be regarded as analogous.

Meaning: Used to describe something in an exaggerated or non-literal sense.

Example Sentence: When I said 'I'm drowning in work', I was being metaphorical.

Meaning: Referring to a concept rather than a direct statement or fact.

Example Sentence: His metaphorical way of speaking makes it hard to know what he really means.