B2adjectivelanguagearts
US/ˈfɪɡ.jər.ə.tɪv/
UK/ˈfɪɡ.ər.ə.tɪv/
used in an imaginative way, not with the basic meaning; also showing real people or things in art
In context
'A heart of stone' is a figurative way of describing a cruel person.
Young children often take figurative language literally and get confused.
The exhibition shows both abstract and figurative paintings from the 1960s.
Words that go with figurative
adjective + noun
- figurative languagePoems are full of figurative language such as metaphors and similes.
- figurative senseShe used the word 'blind' in a figurative sense.
- figurative meaningMany idioms have a figurative meaning that learners must memorize.
- figurative artAfter years of abstract work, he returned to figurative art.
- figurative paintingThe museum has a fine collection of figurative painting.
- figurative expression'Break the ice' is a figurative expression.