Word Meanings - FIGURATIVE - Book Publishers vocabulary database

1. Representing by a figure, or by resemblance; typical; representative. This, they will say, was figurative, and served, by God's appointment, but for a time, to shadow out the true glory of a more divine sanctity. Hooker. 2. Used in a sense that

Additional info about word: FIGURATIVE

1. Representing by a figure, or by resemblance; typical; representative. This, they will say, was figurative, and served, by God's appointment, but for a time, to shadow out the true glory of a more divine sanctity. Hooker. 2. Used in a sense that is tropical, as a metaphor; not literal; -- applied to words and expressions. 3. Ambounding in figures of speech; flowery; florid; as, a highly figurative description. 4. Relating to the representation of form or figure by drawing, carving, etc. See Figure, n., 2. They belonged to a nation dedicated to the figurative arts, and they wrote for a public familiar with painted form. J. A. Symonds. Figurative counterpointdescant. See under Figurate. -- Fig"ur*a*tive*ly, adv. -- Fig"ur*a*tive*ness, n.

Possible synonyms: (Same meaning words of FIGURATIVE)

• Metaphorical
• Figurative
• symbolical
• allegorical
• typical

Related words: (words related to FIGURATIVE)

• TYPICAL
  Combining or exhibiting the essential characteristics of a group; as, a typical genus. -- Typ"ic*al*ly, adv. -- Typ"ic*al*ness, n. (more info) 1. Of the nature of a type; representing something by a form, model, or resemblance; emblematic;
• FIGURATIVE
  1. Representing by a figure, or by resemblance; typical; representative. This, they will say, was figurative, and served, by God's appointment, but for a time, to shadow out the true glory of a more divine sanctity. Hooker. 2. Used in a sense that
• SUBTYPICAL
  Deviating somewhat from the type of a species, genus, or other group; slightly aberrant.
• ATYPIC; ATYPICAL
  That has no type; devoid of typical character; irregular; unlike the type.
• ALLEGORIC; ALLEGORICAL
  Belonging to, or consisting of, allegory; of the nature of an allegory; describing by resemblances; figurative. "An allegoric tale." Falconer. "An allegorical application." Pope. Allegorical being . . . that kind of language which says one thing,
• ETYPICAL
  Diverging from, or lacking conformity to, a type.
• HOMOTYPIC; HOMOTYPICAL
  See HOMOTYPAL
• PREFIGURATIVE
  Showing by prefiguration. "The prefigurative atonement." Bp. Horne.
• ARCHETYPICAL
  Relating to an archetype; archetypal.
• SYMBOLIC; SYMBOLICAL
  Of or pertaining to a symbol or symbols; of the nature of a symbol; exhibiting or expressing by resemblance or signs; representative; as, the figure of an eye is symbolic of sight and knowledge. -- Sym*bol"ic*al*ly, adv. -- Sym*bol"ic*al*ness, n.
• METAPHORIC; METAPHORICAL
  Of or pertaining to metaphor; comprising a metaphor; not literal; figurative; tropical; as, a metaphorical expression; a metaphorical sense. -- Met`a*phor"ic*al*ly, adv. -- Met`a*phor"ic*al*ness, n.
• PHONOTYPIC; PHONOTYPICAL
  Of or pertaining to phonotypy; as, a phonotypic alphabet.
• ANTITYPICAL
  Of or pertaining to an antitype; explaining the type. -- An`ti*typ"ic*al*ly, adv.