Etymology
From Middle French métaphore, from Latin metaphora, from Ancient Greek μεταφοÏά or metaphorá, from μεταφÎÏω or metaphérÅ (I transfer, apply), from μετά or metá (with, across, after) + φÎÏω or phérÅ (I bear, carry).
Noun
metaphor (countable and uncountable, plural metaphors)
- (uncountable, rhetoric) The use of a word or phrase to refer to something other than its literal meaning, invoking an implicit similarity between the thing described and what is denoted by the word or phrase.
- (countable, rhetoric) A word or phrase used in such implied comparison.
- (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.
Derived terms
- conceptual metaphor
- extended metaphor
- metaphoric
- metaphorical
- metaphorical extension
- mixed metaphor
Verb
metaphor (third-person singular simple present metaphors, present participle metaphoring, simple past and past participle metaphored)
- (intransitive) To use a metaphor.
- (transitive) To describe by means of a metaphor.
Credits
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