literal
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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[edit] English
Part or all of this entry has been imported from the 1913 edition of Webster’s Dictionary, which is now free of copyright and hence in the public domain. The imported definitions may be significantly out of date, and any more recent senses may be completely missing.
[edit] Etymology
From Old French literal, from Late Latin litteralis, also literalis (“of or pertaining to letters or to writing”), from Latin littera, litera (“a letter”); see letter.
[edit] Adjective
literal (comparative more literal, superlative most literal)
- Exactly as stated; read or understood without additional interpretation; according to the letter or verbal expression; real; not figurative or metaphorical.
- The literal translation is “hands full of bananas” but it means empty-handed.
- Following the letter or exact words; not free; not taking liberties.
- A literal reading of the law would prohibit it, but that is clearly not the intent.
- Consisting of, or expressed by, letters.
[edit] Antonyms
- (exactly as stated): figurative
[edit] Related terms
[edit] Translations
exactly as stated; read or understood without additional interpretation
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following the letter or exact words, not taking liberties
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consisting of, or expressed by, letters
[edit] Noun
literal (plural literals)
- (programming) A value, as opposed to an identifier, written into the source code of a computer program.
- (logic) A propositional variable or the negation of a propositional variable.[1]
[edit] Translations
programming: value written in the source code
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- literal in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- literal in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
[edit] Anagrams
[edit] Spanish
[edit] Adjective
literal m. and f. (plural literales)
