Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- In a metaphorical manner or sense; by way of metaphor; not literally.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adverb manner In a
metaphoric manner; notliterally ; by means of metaphor. - adverb speech act Used to draw attention that what follows is a
metaphor , not to be taken literally
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adverb in a metaphorical manner
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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On the other hand, to say that a hurricane is a steam motor is not to use the term metaphorically, but literally: one is saying that the hurricane embodies the same engineering diagram as a steam motor: it uses a reservoir of heat and operates via differences of temperature circulated through a Carnot cycle.
Reflections on GardenWorld Politics Douglass Carmichael 2010
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Perhaps they mean to use the term metaphorically, but in the Nixon White House there was an actual list, compiled by Chuck Colson at the behest of John Dean.
Salon 2009
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The Greeks called the island Ichnussa, or footprint, because of its shape, but Sardinia's central location makes the term metaphorically appropriate as well.
Legacy in Stone 2001
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His discovery includes an utterance that metaphorically is somewhat connected to a scientific view of the beginnings:
Sena Jeter Naslund: Beginning Again With Adam & Eve Sena Jeter Naslund 2010
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His discovery includes an utterance that metaphorically is somewhat connected to a scientific view of the beginnings:
Sena Jeter Naslund: Beginning Again With Adam & Eve Sena Jeter Naslund 2010
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Much as I am in favor of a politician doing in reality what they usually do metaphorically, is this really news?
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His discovery includes an utterance that metaphorically is somewhat connected to a scientific view of the beginnings:
Sena Jeter Naslund: Beginning Again With Adam & Eve Sena Jeter Naslund 2010
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His discovery includes an utterance that metaphorically is somewhat connected to a scientific view of the beginnings:
Sena Jeter Naslund: Beginning Again With Adam & Eve Sena Jeter Naslund 2010
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The people of Ayodhya (metaphorically translates to a place of no war) welcomed the trio by lighting rows (avali) of lamps (deepa), hence the name of the festival, Deepavali, or Diwali.
Anju Bhargava: Out of Many, One: Diwali Illuminates Unity Anju Bhargava 2010
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The people of Ayodhya (metaphorically translates to a place of no war) welcomed the trio by lighting rows (avali) of lamps (deepa), hence the name of the festival, Deepavali, or Diwali.
Anju Bhargava: Out of Many, One: Diwali Illuminates Unity Anju Bhargava 2010
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