figurative
English
Etymology
From Middle French figuratif.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈfɪɡəɹətɪv/
Audio (US) (file)
Adjective
figurative (comparative more figurative, superlative most figurative)
- Of use as a metaphor, simile, metonym or other figure of speech, as opposed to literal; using figures; as when saying that someone who eats more than they should is a pig or like a pig.
- 2005 May 1, “The Sea of Love”, in New York Times:
- The lovers she seems to pursue with her figurative language in fact retreat under the barrage of similes, metaphors and fables.
-
- Metaphorically so called.
- With many figures of speech.
- Emblematic, symbolic; representative, exemplative
- 1594–1597, Richard Hooker, J[ohn] S[penser], editor, Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], London: […] Will[iam] Stansby [for Matthew Lownes], published 1611, OCLC 931154958, (please specify the page):
- This, they will say, was figurative, and served, by God's appointment, but for a time, to shadow out the true glory of a more divine sanctity.
-
- (art) representing forms recognisable in life and clearly derived from real object sources, in contrast to abstract art.
- 1875-1886, John Addington Symonds, Renaissance in Italy
- They belonged to a nation dedicated to the figurative arts, and they wrote for a public familiar with painted form.
- 1875-1886, John Addington Symonds, Renaissance in Italy
Usage notes
- Said of language, expression, etc.
Antonyms
- literal
Derived terms
- figuratively
- figurativeness
Related terms
- figure
Translations
metaphorical; not literal
|
metaphorically so called
|
with many figures of speech
|
emblematic
|
art
|
Further reading
- figurative at OneLook Dictionary Search
- figurative in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- figurative in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911
- “figurative”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
- “figurative”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
- figurative in Britannica Dictionary
- What is figurative language?, merriam-webster.com
- figurative in WordReference English Collocations
Figurative art on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
Literal and figurative language on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
French
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /fi.ɡy.ʁa.tiv/
- Homophone: figuratives
Adjective
figurative
- feminine singular of figuratif
German
Pronunciation
Audio (file)
Adjective
figurative
- inflection of figurativ:
- strong/mixed nominative/accusative feminine singular
- strong nominative/accusative plural
- weak nominative all-gender singular
- weak accusative feminine/neuter singular
Italian
Adjective
figurative
- feminine plural of figurativo
Anagrams
- figuratevi
Norwegian Bokmål
Adjective
figurative
- definite singular/plural of figurativ
Norwegian Nynorsk
Adjective
figurative
- definite singular/plural of figurativ