Metaphor Definition, Usage & Examples Explained

Meaning 1：figurative comparison (metaphor)

metaphor 🔊

/ˈmɛtəfɔːr/

A way of describing something by saying it is something else, to make an idea stronger or more beautiful.

Metaphor example illustrated on a classroom chalkboard showing 'Knowledge is a lighthouse' with a drawing.

figurative comparison 🔊

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/ˈfɪɡjʊrətɪv kəmˈpærɪsn̩/

A rhetorical device where one thing is described as being another to create a vivid or symbolic comparison, enhancing expressive power.

📁 Category：Language Evolution 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Greek 'metaphora', meaning 'to transfer', combining 'meta-' (across) and 'pherein' (to carry).

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'META' (change) + 'PHOR' (carry) – a metaphor carries meaning across to create new imagery.

📖 Example

In her speech, the teacher used the metaphor "knowledge is a lighthouse" to explain how learning guides us through difficult times. 🔊 In her speech, the teacher employed the metaphor 'knowledge is a lighthouse' to illustrate how learning helps navigate challenges.

🔗 Collocations

extended metaphor – a metaphor that is developed over several lines or throughout a literary work

dead metaphor – a metaphor that has become so common it is no longer perceived as figurative

mixed metaphor – a combination of two or more incompatible metaphors, often creating confusion

🔄 Synonyms

simile (n.) – a comparison using 'like' or 'as' to link two different things

analogy (n.) – a comparison between two things to explain or clarify a concept

symbol (n.) – something that represents or stands for something else, often abstract

🚫 Antonyms

literal (adj.) – meaning exactly what is said without metaphor or figurative language

🌱 Derivatives

metaphorical (adj.) – relating to or using metaphors

metaphorically (adv.) – in a metaphorical manner

📖 Cultural Story

Originating in ancient Greek rhetoric, 'metaphor' evolved as a key figure of speech to transfer meaning between concepts, enriching literary and everyday language through imaginative comparisons.