literal

B2 · Upper Intermediate

adj. used to emphasize that something is real or actually happened.

adj. denoting the actual or factual nature of a thing; used to emphasize that a description is not an exaggeration.

“The storm caused a literal mountain of trash to wash up on the beach.”

“The explorers faced a literal wall of ice that blocked their path to the summit for three days.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Computing Technical

n. a fixed value written directly into a computer program, like a specific number or a piece of text.

n. a notation for representing a fixed value within source code, as opposed to a variable or an identifier.

“In the code, the number 5 is a literal, while 'x' is a variable.”

“The compiler optimizes the program by evaluating string literals at compile time rather than during execution.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Formal · Technical

n. a small mistake in printing or writing, especially one that involves a single letter.

n. a typographical error involving a single character or letter, often occurring during typesetting or transcription.

“The editor found a few literals in the first chapter that needed correcting.”

“Despite multiple rounds of proofreading, a single literal remained in the final title of the academic journal.”