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

Princeton's WordNet(1.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. figurative, nonliteral(adj)

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

   "figurative language"

2. figural, figurative(adj)

   consisting of or forming human or animal figures

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

Wiktionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. figurative(Adjective)

   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. figurative(Adjective)

   Metaphorically so called

3. figurative(Adjective)

   With many figures of speech

4. figurative(Adjective)

   Emblematic

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Figurative(adj)

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

2. Figurative(adj)

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

3. Figurative(adj)

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

4. Figurative(adj)

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

Origin: [L. figurativus: cf. F. figuratif. See Figurative.]

Editors Contribution(3.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. figurative

   Of an artist or work of art or poem representing forms that are recognizably derived from life.

   The poet used figurative language which empowered him to connect to his readers in a way they understood.

   Submitted by MaryC on October 4, 2016  

How to pronounce figurative?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

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. Cometan:

   Five figurative children, I have, whom I have raised since I was the age of fifteen.

2. 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.

3. Maxime Aubert:

   To me, the most fascinating aspect of our research is that humanity's oldest cave art is at least 44,000 years old and it already has all the key components relating to modern cognition, [ like ] hand stencils, figurative art, storytelling, therianthropes and religious thinking, so it must have a much older origin, possibly in Africa or soon after we left Africa.

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. Diane Frolov:

   What is it about genus arboretum that socks us in the figurative solar plexus We see a logging truck go cruising down the road, stacked with a bunch of those fresh-cut giants, we feel like we lost a brother. Next thing you know, we're in The Brick, we're flopping money down on the bar. Wood. We're under a roof. Wood. We're walking the floors. Wood. Grabbing a pool cue. That's wood. Our friends in the forest carry a set of luggage from the mythical baggage carousel. Tree of life, tree of knowledge, family tree, Buddha's Bodhi tree. Page one of life, in the beginning. Genesis 322. Adam and Eve. They're kicking back in the garden of Eden and boom, they get an eviction notice. Why is that Lest they should also take of the tree of life, eat and live forever. A definitive Yahweh no-no. Be good to yourself, go out and plant a wet one on a tree.

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