- pronunciation:
- me
t
for
- features:
- Word History, Word Explorer, Word Parts
| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition: |
a phrase that describes something by comparing it to some other thing, as, for example, when a man says that his wife is a diamond.
"Her words are pearls" is a metaphor. |
| derivation: |
metaphorical (adj.) |
The word
metaphor comes from an ancient Greek word that meant "to transfer or carry over to something else." When you use a metaphor, it is as though you are taking the word for one thing and transferring it to another thing that you perceive to be like the first thing.
The word metaphor
contains the following parts:
meta-
Greek
prefix
that means
change, between, after, beyond
Example words:
phor, pher, -phore
Greek
root
that means
carry, bear
Example words:
- synonyms:
- fer, lat2, -late