figurative sense

  • 1in a figurative sense — metaphorically; in a metaphorical sense; descriptively …

    English contemporary dictionary

  • 2figurative — [[t]fɪ̱gərətɪv, AM gjər [/t]] 1) ADJ: usu ADJ n If you use a word or expression in a figurative sense, you use it with a more abstract or imaginative meaning than its ordinary literal one. ...an event that will change your route in both the… …

    English dictionary

  • 3figurative — fig|u|ra|tive [ˈfıgjurətıv, gə ] adj 1.) a figurative word or phrase is used in a different way from its usual meaning, to give you a particular idea or picture in your mind →↑literal ▪ He s my son, in the figurative sense of the word. 2.)… …

    Dictionary of contemporary English

  • 4figurative — adjective 1 if a word or phrase is used in a figurative way, it is used about something different from what it normally refers to, to give you a picture in your mind: I was using the word battle in its figurative sense. compare literal 1 (1) 2… …

    Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • 5Figurative — Fig ur*a*tive, a. [L. figurativus: cf. F. figuratif. See {Figurative}.] 1. Representing by a figure, or by resemblance; typical; representative. [1913 Webster] This, they will say, was figurative, and served, by God s appointment, but for a time …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 6Figurative counterpoint — Figurative Fig ur*a*tive, a. [L. figurativus: cf. F. figuratif. See {Figurative}.] 1. Representing by a figure, or by resemblance; typical; representative. [1913 Webster] This, they will say, was figurative, and served, by God s appointment, but… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 7Figurative descant — Figurative Fig ur*a*tive, a. [L. figurativus: cf. F. figuratif. See {Figurative}.] 1. Representing by a figure, or by resemblance; typical; representative. [1913 Webster] This, they will say, was figurative, and served, by God s appointment, but… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 8figurative — [fig′yoor ə tiv΄, fig′yərə tiv] adj. [ME < OFr figuratif < LL figurativus < L figuratus, pp. of figurare, to form, fashion < figura, FIGURE] 1. representing by means of a figure, symbol, or likeness 2. having to do with figure drawing …

    English World dictionary

  • 9sense — I n. judgment 1) to display, show sense 2) common, good, horse (colloq.) sense 3) a grain of sense 4) the sense to + inf. (they don t have the sense to admit defeat) 5) (misc.) to bring smb. to her/his senses; to come to one s senses; to take… …

    Combinatory dictionary

  • 10sense — {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} noun 1 sight, hearing, etc. ADJECTIVE ▪ acute, developed, good, keen ▪ Raccoons have a highly developed sense of touch. ▪ poor ▪ …

    Collocations dictionary