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metaphor
[ met-uh-fawr, -fer ]
noun
- 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 mixed metaphor, simile ( def 1 ).
metaphor
/ -ˌfɔː; ˌmɛtəˈfɒrɪk; ˈmɛtəfə /
noun
- 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
metaphor
- 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 .)
Derived Forms
- metaphoric, adjective
- ˌٲˈǰ, adverb
- ˌٲˈǰԱ, noun
Other Word Forms
- ··ǰ·· [met-, uh, -, fawr, -i-k, uh, l, -, for, -], ··ǰ· adjective
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of metaphor1
Compare Meanings
How does metaphor compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Example Sentences
There’s no official diagram, so a metaphor may have to do.
He uses rubber castings as metaphors to acknowledge communities vulnerable to “forced displacement” in broader discussions about identity, movement and migration.
The metaphor lingers in the air, underscoring the toll taken by all of the operations.
I don’t know that it was intentional, but for me the attack on Jackson was more than just distracting; it was a heavy-handed metaphor.
People generally use "Kafkaesque" as a metaphor, perhaps to describe an especially aggravating trip to the DMV.
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