/huy perr"beuh lee/ , n. Rhet.
1. obvious and intentional exaggeration.
2. an extravagant statement or figure of speech not intended to be taken literally, as "to wait an eternity." Cf. litotes .
[ 1520-30; hyperbolé excess, exaggeration, throwing beyond, equiv. to hyper- HYPER- + bolé throw ]
Syn. 2. overstatement.
Ant. 2. understatement.