Pronunciation: /ˈlɪtərəl/
noun noun - a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea. 'Literal' can also be used as a noun to refer to a literal interpretation or meaning.
A1 The literal of the word 'cat' is a furry animal with whiskers and a tail.
A2 In this context, the term 'literal' refers to the exact wording used in the text.
B1 The literal translation of this phrase from Spanish to English is 'good morning'.
B2 It is important to understand the literal meaning of a passage before analyzing its deeper implications.
C1 The author's use of literal language created a vivid image in the reader's mind.
C2 The literal interpretation of the data led to a groundbreaking discovery in the field of science.
adjective adjective - a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun. 'Literal' in this context means being true to fact; not exaggerated or metaphorical.
A1 She took the phrase 'break a leg' literally and thought she had to actually break her leg.
A2 The instructions were so literal that even a beginner could follow them easily.
B1 His literal interpretation of the poem missed the deeper meaning the author intended.
B2 The artist's literal depiction of the landscape captured every detail with precision.
C1 The scientist's literal approach to the experiment ensured accurate and reliable results.
C2 The lawyer's literal interpretation of the contract revealed hidden clauses that others had overlooked.
adverb adverb - a word that modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb. There is no adverb form of 'literal'.
A1 She took the phrase 'break a leg' literally and thought she had to actually break a leg.
A2 He followed the instructions in the recipe literally, but the cake still didn't turn out right.
B1 The teacher explained the grammar rule in a literal way so that the students could understand it easily.
B2 The lawyer advised his client to interpret the contract terms literally to avoid any misunderstandings.
C1 The scientist analyzed the data in a literal sense, focusing only on the facts without any subjective interpretations.
C2 The author's writing style is characterized by its literal descriptions and precise details.
formal The literal meaning of the word 'book' is a written or printed work consisting of pages glued or sewn together along one side and bound in covers.
informal I was so hungry that I could eat a literal horse!
slang I can't believe you took my joke so literal, lighten up!
figurative When she said she was on cloud nine, she was being figurative, not literal.
literaled
literals
more literal
most literal
literal
will literal
have literal
am being literal
literal
literal
to literal
literalizing
literalized