V2 Vocabulary Building Dictionary
figurative
adjective
Definition: 1. an imaginative comparison rather than a literal meaning; 2. metaphorical, making use of figures of speech; 3. artistic representation by means of human or animal figures
Synonyms: metaphoric, allegorical, symbolic, imaginative, representative
Antonyms: literal, realistic
Tips: "Figuratively speaking" is a phrase used preceding a description where it may not be obvious that the literal sense is not meant. Figurative language is that which makes use of figures of speech, such as in poetry. You will notice many words in this program have both literal and figurative uses. A simple example: marriage means literally "to wed." However, you can say figuratively, "we married the two ideas and came up with a better plan."
Usage Examples:
The church held a beautiful figurative representation of the nativity scene at Christmas. (symbolic, containing figures)
Her figurative method of storytelling made her an engaging speaker. (metaphoric, allegorical)
When he said "boomerang," he didn't mean it literally; it was a figurative use, meaning that the problem would come back to him. (metaphoric, allegorical)
When accountants say they are "crunching numbers," they mean that figuratively, as they are not actually "crunching" numbers. (metaphorically, symbolically) adverb
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