# metaphor

/ˈmɛtəfɔɹ/ (US) · /mˈɛtəfˌɔː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/metaphor
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. figure of speech

noun · CEFR B2

a way of describing something by saying it is something else to show they share a quality.

For teachers: a figure of speech that describes an object or action in a way that isn't literally true, but helps explain an idea or make a comparison.

- The teacher used the metaphor of a 'rollercoaster' to describe the character's emotions.
- The author employs the metaphor of a decaying garden to represent the moral decline of the family over several generations.

### 2. computing interface

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the use of familiar objects to represent digital tasks, like using a 'folder' icon for files.

For teachers: the application of a conceptual framework from the physical world to a digital interface to improve user intuition.

- The 'desktop' metaphor makes it easy for new users to understand how to organize their computer files.
- Early operating systems relied heavily on the office metaphor, using icons for trash cans, folders, and filing cabinets to guide user interaction.

## Examples

- The writer used a metaphor to describe the stormy sea as an angry monster.
- In her speech, she relied on the metaphor of a marathon to explain how long and difficult the recovery process would be.
- The poem's central metaphor equates the fading light of autumn to the inevitable decline of human memory, weaving a sense of loss through every stanza.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.