figurative

From Middle French figuratif

IPA^(key): /ˈfɪɡjʊɹətɪv/

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figurative (comparative more figurative, superlative most figurative)

1. 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".
   • 2005 May 1, “The Sea of Love”, in New York Times‎:

     The lovers she seems to pursue with her figurative language in fact retreat under the barrage of similes, metaphors and fables.

2. Metaphorically so called.
3. With many figures of speech.
4. Emblematic; representative
   • Hooker

     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.

5. (art) representing forms recognisable in life and clearly derived from real object sources, in contrast to abstract art.
   • J. A. Symonds

     They belonged to a nation dedicated to the figurative arts, and they wrote for a public familiar with painted form.

• Said of language, expression, etc.

• literal

• figurativeness
• figuratively

• figure

• figurative in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• figurative in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• “figurative” (US) / “figurative” (UK) in Oxford Dictionaries, Oxford University Press.
• figurative art on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

figurative

1. feminine singular of figuratif

figurative

1. inflected form of figurativ

figurative

1. feminine plural of figurativo

• figuratevi

figurative

1. definite singular and plural of figurativ

figurative

1. definite singular and plural of figurativ