- pronunciation:
- me
t
for
- features:
- Word History, Word Explorer, Word Parts
| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition: |
a phrase that describes something by comparing it to some other thing, as, for example, when a man says that his wife is a diamond.
"Her words are pearls" is a metaphor. |
| derivation: |
metaphorical (adj.) |
The word
metaphor comes from an ancient Greek word that meant "to transfer or carry over to something else." When you use a metaphor, it is as though you are taking the word for one thing and transferring it to another thing that you perceive to be like the first thing.