metaphor

/ˈmɛtəˌfɔr/
noun
  1. A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to something it does not literally describe, suggesting a comparison.
    • She used a metaphor to explain her sadness, saying 'my heart is a heavy stone.'
    • In the metaphor 'time is a thief,' time is compared to someone who steals.
    • The poet's metaphor of life as a journey appears in many cultures.
  2. Something that represents or symbolizes something else, often in a broader or cultural sense.
    • The empty chair at the table was a metaphor for the loss they all felt.
    • The crumbling building became a metaphor for the decline of the city.
    • For many, the marathon is a metaphor for the challenges of life.
Antonyms
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