metaphorical extension
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
From at least 1995, the Latin and Greek metaphora μεταφορά, the transferring of the meaning of one word to another word. plus extension— Capacity of a concept or general term to include a greater or smaller number of objects; -- correlative of intension.
[edit] Noun
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Singular |
Plural |
metaphorical extension (plural metaphorical extensions)
- A noun meaning the process as the language changes over time in linguistics wherein the meaning of or part of the sense of a word which was used as a portion of a popularized metaphorical phrase is transferred back to and subsequently becomes one of the accepted general meanings of the original word used in the phrase . (Example mouse, in computing from computer mouse, an input device which possessed a metaphorical tail.)
- The part of the definition of a word which has undergone a such meaning change.
