figurative
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++fig·u·ra·tive /ˈfɪɡjərətɪv, -ɡə-/ ●○○ adjective 1 EXACTa figurative word or phrase is used in a different way from its usual meaning, to give you a particular idea or picture in your mind 比喻的，借喻的 → literal He’s my son, in the figurative sense of the word. 打个比方，他就像是我的儿子。2. technicalAV figurative art shows objects, people, or the countryside as they really look 〔艺术〕形象的 → abstract —figuratively adverb They have a taste – figuratively speaking – for excitement. 用个形象的说法，刺激合他们的“口味”。
Examples from the Corpus
figurative• Certainly the titles encourage the spectator to identify some forms as almost figurative.• Where he is abstract and geometric, she is figurative and expressionist.• What then did the figurative artists depict?• The essence of realism, it is not merely figurative but meticulously mimetic.• Rolle can only talk about it in figurative terms.in the figurative sense• Miracle in the figurative sense, since although we do not know how cells evolved, quite plausible scenarios have been proposed.fig·u·ra·tive adjectiveChineseSyllable
Corpus different phrase in figurative a used word is a or
figurative
fig‧u‧ra‧tive /ˈfɪɡjərətɪv, ˈfɪɡjʊrətɪv, -ɡə-/
adjective
1. a figurative word or phrase is used in a different way from its usual meaning, to give you a particular idea or picture in your mind ⇨ literal:
He’s my son, in the figurative sense of the word.
2. technical figurative art shows objects, people, or the countryside as they really look ⇨ abstract
—figuratively adverb:
They have a taste – figuratively speaking – for excitement.
fig‧u‧ra‧tive /ˈfɪɡjərətɪv, ˈfɪɡjʊrətɪv, -ɡə-/
adjective1. a figurative word or phrase is used in a different way from its usual meaning, to give you a particular idea or picture in your mind ⇨ literal:
2. technical figurative art shows objects, people, or the countryside as they really look ⇨ abstract
—figuratively adverb: