Metaphorical
[met-uh-fawr, -fer] /ˈmɛt əˌfɔr, -fər/
noun
1.
a figure of speech in which a term or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable in order to suggest a resemblance, as in “A mighty fortress is our God.”.
Compare , (def 1).
2.
something used, or regarded as being used, to represent something else; emblem; symbol.
/ˈmɛtəfə; -ˌfɔː/
noun
1.
a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action that it does not literally denote in order to imply a resemblance, for example he is a lion in battle Compare simile
adj.
1550s, from metaphor + -ical. Related: metaphorically.
n.
late 15c., from Middle French metaphore (Old French metafore, 13c.), and directly from Latin metaphora, from Greek metaphora “a transfer,” especially of the sense of one word to a different word, literally “a carrying over,” from metapherein “transfer, carry over; change, alter; to use a word in a strange sense,” from meta- “over, across” (see meta-) + pherein “to carry, bear” (see infer).
The comparison of one thing to another without the use of like or as: “A man is but a weak reed”; “The road was a ribbon of moonlight.” Metaphors are common in literature and expansive speech. (Compare simile.)
Read Also:
- Metaphorically
[met-uh-fawr, -fer] /ˈmɛt əˌfɔr, -fər/ noun 1. a figure of speech in which a term or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable in order to suggest a resemblance, as in “A mighty fortress is our God.”. Compare , (def 1). 2. something used, or regarded as being used, to […]
- Metaphors
[met-uh-fawr, -fer] /ˈmɛt əˌfɔr, -fər/ noun 1. a figure of speech in which a term or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable in order to suggest a resemblance, as in “A mighty fortress is our God.”. Compare , (def 1). 2. something used, or regarded as being used, to […]
- Metaphosphoric-acid
[met-uh-fos-fawr-ik, -for-] /ˌmɛt ə fɒsˈfɔr ɪk, -ˈfɒr-/ noun, Chemistry. 1. an acid, HPO 3 , derived from phosphorous pentoxide, and containing the smallest amount of water of the acids. /ˌmɛtəfɒsˈfɒrɪk/ noun 1. a glassy deliquescent highly polymeric solid, used as a dehydrating agent. Formula: (HPO3)n See also polyphosphoric acid metaphosphoric acid met·a·phos·phor·ic acid (mět’ə-fŏs-fôr’ĭk) n. […]
- Metaphosphate
[met-uh-fos-feyt] /ˌmɛt əˈfɒs feɪt/ noun, Chemistry. 1. a salt or ester of metaphosphoric acid. /ˌmɛtəˈfɒsfeɪt/ noun 1. any salt of metaphosphoric acid
- Metaphragm
noun the wall that divides the abdomen from thorax in insects Usage Note science