Definition of figurative Figurative
/fɪˈgjɚʌtɪv/ - [figyerutiv] - fig•ur•a•tive
We found 10 definitions of figurative from 3 different sources.
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What does figurative mean?
WordNet
Adjective |
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| figurative - (used of the meanings of words or text) not literal; using figures of speech; "figurative language" | ||
| nonliteral | ||
| literal without interpretation or embellishment; "a literal depiction of the scene before him" | ||
| rhetorical given to rhetoric, emphasizing style at the expense of thought; "mere rhetorical frippery" | ||
| analogical expressing, composed of, or based on an analogy; "the analogical use of a metaphor" | ||
| extended beyond the literal or primary sense; "`hot off the press' shows an extended sense of `hot'" | ||
| metaphoric, metaphorical expressing one thing in terms normally denoting another; "a metaphorical expression"; "metaphoric language" | ||
| metonymic, metonymical using the name of one thing for that of another with which it is closely associated; "to say `he spent the evening reading Shakespeare' is metonymic because it substitutes the author himself for the author's works" | ||
| poetic characterized by romantic imagery; "Turner's vision of the rainbow...was poetic" | ||
| synecdochic, synecdochical using the name of a part for that of the whole or the whole for the part; or the special for the general or the general for the special; or the material for the thing made of it; "to use `hand' for `worker' or `ten sail' for `ten ships' or `steel' for `sword' is to use a synecdochic figure of speech" | ||
| figurative - consisting of or forming human or animal figures; "a figural design"; "the figurative art of the humanistic tradition"- Herbert Read | ||
| figural | ||
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Wiktionary 
- figurative (Adjective)
Metaphorical or tropical, as opposed to literal; using figures; as of the use of "cats and dogs" in the phrase "It's raining cats and dogs". - figurative (Adjective)
Metaphorically so called. - figurative (Adjective)
With many figures of speech. - figurative (Adjective)
Emblematic.
Webster DictionaryWebster's Unabridged Dictionary 📘
- figurative (a.)
Representing by a figure, or by resemblance; typical; representative. - figurative (a.)
Used in a sense that is tropical, as a metaphor; not literal; -- applied to words and expressions. - figurative (a.)
Abounding in figures of speech; flowery; florid; as, a highly figurative description. - figurative (a.)
Relating to the representation of form or figure by drawing, carving, etc. See Figure, n., 2.
