metaphor
UK /ˈmɛt.ə.fə/ · US /ˈmɛt.ə.foɹ/ noun, verb
Forms metaphors metaphoring metaphored
- noun (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.
- noun (countable, rhetoric) A word or phrase used in such implied comparison.
- noun (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.
- verb (intransitive) To use a metaphor.
- verb (transitive) To describe by means of a metaphor.
Etymology
From Middle French métaphore, from Latin metaphora, from Ancient Greek μεταφορά (metaphorá), from μεταφέρω (metaphérō, “to transfer, apply”), from μετά (metá, “with, across, after”) + φέρω (phérō, “to bear, carry”).
Webster’s 1913
- noun The transference of the relation between one set of objects to another set for the purpose of brief explanation; a compressed simile; e. g., the ship plows the sea. Abbott & Seeley. "All the world's a stage." Shak.
Etymology [F. métaphore, L. metaphora, fr. Gr. meta` beyond, over + fe`rein to bring, bear.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “metaphor”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details