Metaphor Meaning
/ˈmɛ.tə.fə/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe 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.
nounA word or phrase used in such implied comparison.
Sentence Examples
"He's a tiger when he's angry" is an example of metaphor.
It's apparently a metaphor for something uncatchable, light of body and fleet of foot.
A game of football used as a metaphor for the competitive struggle of life
CEFR Practice Quiz
When she said 'her heart is gold', she used a ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The author used a powerful ____ to describe the character's overwhelming grief as a deep and dark ocean.
Word Origin & History
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”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The next group of computational approaches to metaphor assume that metaphor is basically a hidden analogy."
— 2013, Eileen Cornell Way, Knowledge Representation and Metaphor, page 157:
"A Metaphor, in place of proper words,
Resemblance puts; and dress to speech affords."
— 1835, L[arret] Langley, “[The Seven Tropes.] Metaphor.”, in A Manual of the Figures of Rhetoric, […], Doncaster, South Yorkshire: […] C. White, […], →OCLC, page 3:
"A Metaphor may be changed into a Simile, and also into plain language, containing neither metaphor nor simile. Thus:
Metaphor. — Idleness is the rust of the soul.
Simile. — As rust is to iron, so is idleness to the soul, taking away its strength and power of resistance.
Plain. — Idleness takes away from the soul its strength and power of resistance."
— 1874, John Seely Hart, First Lessons in Composition, page 92:
"To torture the metaphor, though, they’re sitting at a table outside the Nazi bar; their friends are there, they’re having a good time, maybe they hear a slur emanate from the window from time to time."
— 2025 May 23, Charlie Warzel, “What Are People Still Doing on X?”, in The Atlantic:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
When she said 'her heart is gold', she used a ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The author used a powerful ____ to describe the character's overwhelming grief as a deep and dark ocean.