Definitions for figurative
ˈfɪg yər ə tɪvfig·u·ra·tive

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:1.0 / 2 votes

1. figurative, nonliteraladjective

   (used of the meanings of words or text) not literal; using figures of speech

   "figurative language"

2. figural, figurativeadjective

   consisting of or forming human or animal figures

   "a figural design"; "the figurative art of the humanistic tradition"- Herbert Read

WiktionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. figurativeadjective

   Metaphorical or tropical, as opposed to literal; using figures; as of the use of "cats and dogs" in the phrase "It's raining cats and dogs".

2. figurativeadjective

   Metaphorically so called

3. figurativeadjective

   With many figures of speech

4. figurativeadjective

   Emblematic

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Figurativeadjective

   Etymology: figuratif-ve, Fr. from figura, Latin.

   1. Representing something else; typical; representative.

   This, they will say, was figurative, and served by God’s appointment but for a time, to shadow out the true everlasting glory of a more divine sanctity; where into Christ being long since entered, it seemeth that all these curious exornations should rather cease. Richard Hooker, b. v. s. 15.

   2. Changed by rhetorical figures from the primitive meaning; not literal.

   How often have we been railed at for understanding words in a figurative sense, which cannot be literally understood without overthrowing the plainest evidence of sense and reason. Edward Stillingfleet, Def. of Disc. on Rom. Idol.

   This is a figurative expression, where the words are used in a different sense from what they signify in their first ordinary intention. John Rogers, Sermon 14.

   3. Full of figures; full of rhetorical exornations; full of changes from the original sense.

   Sublime subjects ought to be adorned with the sublimest and with the most figurative expressions. John Dryden, Juvenal, Pref.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Figurativeadjective

   representing by a figure, or by resemblance; typical; representative

2. Figurativeadjective

   used in a sense that is tropical, as a metaphor; not literal; -- applied to words and expressions

3. Figurativeadjective

   abounding in figures of speech; flowery; florid; as, a highly figurative description

4. Figurativeadjective

   relating to the representation of form or figure by drawing, carving, etc. See Figure, n., 2

5. Etymology: [L. figurativus: cf. F. figuratif. See Figurative.]

How to pronounce figurative?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say figurative in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of figurative in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of figurative in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of figurative in a Sentence

1. President Trump:

   And if you don't fight like hell, you're not going to have a country anymore, of the over 10,000 words spoken, President Trump used the word' fight' a little more than a handful of times and each time in the figurative sense that has long been accepted in public discourse when urging people to stand and use their voices to be heard on matters important to them ; it was not and could not be construed to encourage acts of violence.

2. Shaun Fletcher:

   We’re putting our athletes through a lot of painful literal and figurative hoops and hurdles with really no resolution at the end of it to tell them that this is the standard that is being set for competition, there needs to be a joint effort to determine the metric because athletics and institutions, they go off of metrics and standards that can be applied to the masses.

3. Lauren McLean:

   The antisemitic messages contained in the graffiti found along the Greenbelt put a literal and figurative stain on Boise Parks and Recreation workers community. This will not be tolerated, hate speech is reprehensible. It is not who( Boise Parks and Recreation workers) are as a city and is not part of Boise Parks and Recreation workers shared values. I invite all good people of Boise to stand with me, as I stand with Boise Parks and Recreation workers Jewish neighbors, to rebuke this hate.

4. William Barr:

   One of the ironies, as some have observed, is that the secular project has itself become a religion, pursued with religious fervor. It is taking on all the trappings of a religion – including inquisitions and excommunication. Those who defy the creed risk a figurative burning at the stake – social, educational, and professional ostracism and exclusion waged through lawsuits and savage social media campaigns.

5. Salvador Dalí:

   We are all hungry and thirsty for concrete images. Abstract art will have been good for one thing: to restore its exact virginity to figurative art.

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