figurative
English
Etymology
From Middle French figuratif.
Pronunciation
Adjective
figurative (comparative more figurative, superlative most figurative)
- Of use as a metaphor, simile, or metonym, as opposed to literal; using figures; as when saying that someone who eats more than they should is a pig or like a pig. .
- 2005 May 1, “The Sea of Love”, in New York Times[1]:
- The lovers she seems to pursue with her figurative language in fact retreat under the barrage of similes, metaphors and fables.
- Metaphorically so called.
- With many figures of speech.
- Emblematic, symbolic; representative, exemplative
- (Can we date this quote by Hooker and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
- This, they will say, was figurative, and served, by God's appointment, but for a time, to shadow out the true glory of a more divine sanctity.
- (Can we date this quote by Hooker and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
- (art) representing forms recognisable in life and clearly derived from real object sources, in contrast to abstract art.
- (Can we date this quote by J. A. Symonds and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
- They belonged to a nation dedicated to the figurative arts, and they wrote for a public familiar with painted form.
- (Can we date this quote by J. A. Symonds and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
Usage notes
- Said of language, expression, etc.
Antonyms
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
metaphorical; not literal
metaphorically so called
|
with many figures of speech
|
emblematic
|
art
Further reading
- “figurative”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- “figurative”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
- “figurative”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
figurative art on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
French
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /fi.ɡy.ʁa.tiv/
- Homophone: figuratives
Adjective
figurative
German
Pronunciation
Audio: (file)
Adjective
figurative
- inflection of figurativ:
Italian
Adjective
figurative
- (deprecated template usage) Feminine plural of adjective figurativo.
Anagrams
Norwegian Bokmål
Adjective
Norwegian Nynorsk
Adjective
Categories:
- English terms derived from Middle French
- English 4-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio links
- English lemmas
- English adjectives
- English terms with quotations
- Requests for date/Hooker
- en:Art
- Requests for date/J. A. Symonds
- French 4-syllable words
- French terms with IPA pronunciation
- French terms with homophones
- French non-lemma forms
- French adjective forms
- German terms with audio links
- German non-lemma forms
- German adjective forms
- Italian non-lemma forms
- Italian adjective forms
- Italian adjective feminine forms
- Italian adjective plural forms