World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesMetaphor
/ˈmɛtəˌfɔr/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable in order to suggest a resemblance.
"Her solemn poetry often employs the ocean as a rich metaphor for human grief." - 2
A thing regarded as representative or symbolic of something else, especially something abstract.
"The ruined castle stood as a dark metaphor for the collapse of the ancient empire."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
The word 'metaphor' originates from the Greek 'metaphora', meaning 'transfer' or 'to carry over'. It evolved through Latin into Middle English, where it began to denote a figure of speech that describes an object or action in a way that isn’t literally true, but helps explain an idea or make a comparison.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Metaphor"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Metaphor" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
métaphore
Transliteration: mey-ta-fohr
"Le poète utilise une belle métaphore pour décrire le temps."
Metapher
Transliteration: me-ta-fer
"Das Gedicht ist voller starker Metaphern."
metafora
Transliteration: me-ta-fo-ra
"Questa poesia contiene una metafora profonda."
metáfora
Transliteration: me-ta-fo-ra
"El autor emplea una metáfora sorprendente en el primer verso."
metáfora
Transliteration: me-ta-fo-ra
"A metáfora é um recurso essencial na poesia lírica."
रूपक
Transliteration: roopak
"कविता में चाँद के लिए एक सुंदर रूपक का प्रयोग किया गया है।"
隐喻
Transliteration: yǐnyù
"这首诗充满了深刻的隐喻。"
은유
Transliteration: eunyu
"그 시인은 아름다운 은유를 사용하여 감정을 표현했다."
隠喩
Transliteration: inyu
"彼の詩には多くの巧みな隠喩が含まれている。"
Related Vocabulary Words to Explore
View all English termsTo think carefully about something, typically before making a decision.
A formal, documented account of findings, investigations, or statistics issued by an authoritative body or government agency.
Used to express pleasure, realization, surprise, or understanding.
Explore Nuanced Synonyms for "Metaphor"
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