figurative use en
71window — (n.) early 13c., lit. wind eye, from O.N. vindauga, from vindr wind (see WIND (Cf. wind) (n.1)) + auga eye. (see EYE (Cf. eye) (n.)). Replaced O.E. eagþyrl, lit. eye hole, and eagduru, lit …
72boomerang — is an Australian word which has moved into International English. It was borrowed from Dharuk, the Aboriginal language spoken in the Sydney region. While the spelling boomerang is now standard, in the early period the word was given a variety of… …
73tropology — [trə pɒlədʒi] noun 1》 the figurative use of language. 2》 Christian Theology the figurative interpretation of the scriptures as a source of moral guidance. Derivatives tropological adjective Origin ME: via late L. from Gk tropologia, from tropos… …
74absorb — 1 Absorb, imbibe, assimilate can all mean to take (something) in so as to become imbued with it or to make it a part of one’s being. The original meaning of absorb, to swallow up (both literally and figuratively), has been retained in spite of… …
75eve — means ‘the evening or day before’ (as in Christmas Eve) and, in figurative use, also means ‘the time just before an event’ (as in the eve of the election). In the following examples, eve is literal in the first two phrases, is figurative in the… …
76tropology — n. 1 the figurative use of words. 2 figurative interpretation, esp. of the Scriptures. Derivatives: tropological adj. Etymology: LL tropologia f. Gk tropologia (as TROPE) …
77Blockbuster (entertainment) — Blockbuster, as applied to film or theatre, denotes a very popular and/or successful production. The entertainment industry use was originally theatrical slang referring to a particularly successful play but is now used primarily by the film… …
78fuck — (v.) until recently a difficult word to trace, in part because it was taboo to the editors of the original OED when the F volume was compiled, 1893 97. Written form only attested from early 16c. OED 2nd edition cites 1503, in the form fukkit;… …
79squat — 1. to defecate The posture adopted and perhaps referring to the dialect meaning, to squirt: The authorities were trying to teach the people not to squat behind their huts. (M. McCarthy, 1967) For females, a squat may mean urination… …
80tart — Call a woman a tart and she ll take offence, and rightly so. There are two current meanings for a female tart, both derogatory: 1. a prostitute, or a promiscuous woman 2. an offensive slang term for a girl or woman. But it wasn t always the case …
