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metaphor

noun [C or U]
 
 
/ˈmet.ə.fɔːr/ US  /ˈmet̬.ə.fɔːr/

Definition

C2 an expression, often found in literature, that describes a person or object by referring to something that is considered to have similar characteristics to that person or object: 'The mind is an ocean' and 'the city is a jungle' are both metaphors. Metaphor and simile are the most commonly used figures of speech in everyday language.Figurative use of language
(Definition of metaphor noun from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

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