— metaphorical /met'euh fawr"i keuhl, -for"-/ , metaphoric , adj. — metaphorically , adv. — metaphoricalness , n.
/met"euh fawr', -feuhr/ , n.
1. a figure of speech in which a term or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable in order to suggest a resemblance, as in "A mighty fortress is our God." Cf. mixed metaphor, simile (def. 1).
2. something used, or regarded as being used, to represent something else; emblem; symbol.
[ 1525-35; metaphora metaphorá a transfer, akin to metaphérein to transfer. See META-, -PHORE ]