/ ˈlɪtərəl; NAmE / adjective
1.
[ usually before noun ] being the basic or usual meaning of a word or phrase :
I am not referring to 'small' people in the literal sense of the word.
The literal meaning of 'petrify' is 'turn to stone'.
—compare figurative , metaphorical
2.
[ usually before noun ] that follows the original words exactly :
a literal translation
—compare free
3.
( disapproving ) lacking imagination :
Her interpretation of the music was too literal.
► lit·er·al·ness noun [ U ]
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French , or from late Latin litteralis , from Latin littera letter of the alphabet, (plural) epistle, literature, culture.