Metaphor

Quick meaning: Metaphor is a noun meaning (countable, rhetoric) A word or phrase used in such implied comparison.

Meaning

(countable, rhetoric) A word or phrase used in such implied comparison.

More Meanings

1. (intransitive) To use a metaphor.
2. (transitive) To describe by means of a metaphor.
3. (countable, graphical user interface) The use of an everyday object or concept to represent an underlying facet of the computer and thus aid users in performing tasks.
4. (uncountable, rhetoric) The use of a word, phrase, concept, or set of concepts to refer to something other than its literal meaning, invoking an implicit similarity between the thing described and what is denoted by the word, etc., that is used.

Example Sentences

desktop metaphor; wastebasket metaphor

A Metaphor, in place of proper words, Resemblance puts; and dress to speech affords.

The next group of computational approaches to metaphor assume that metaphor is basically a hidden analogy.

To torture the metaphor, though, they’re sitting at a table outside the Nazi bar; their friends are there, they’re having a good time, maybe they hear a slur emanate from the window from time to time.

Word Forms

• metaphors
• metaphoring
• metaphored

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include analogy, comparison, transposition, image, picture, transfer.

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