| English Dictionary |
LITERAL
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
| IPA (US): |  |
Dictionary entry overview: What does literal mean?
• LITERAL (noun)
The noun LITERAL has 1 sense:
1. a mistake in printed matter resulting from mechanical failures of some kind
Familiarity information: LITERAL used as a noun is very rare.
• LITERAL (adjective)
The adjective LITERAL has 4 senses:
1. being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something
2. without interpretation or embellishment
3. limited to the explicit meaning of a word or text
4. avoiding embellishment or exaggeration (used for emphasis)
Familiarity information: LITERAL used as an adjective is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
A mistake in printed matter resulting from mechanical failures of some kind
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Synonyms:
erratum; literal; literal error; misprint; typo; typographical error
Hypernyms ("literal" is a kind of...):
error; mistake (part of a statement that is not correct)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something
Synonyms:
actual; genuine; literal; real
Context example:
a genuine dilemma
Similar:
true (consistent with fact or reality; not false)
Derivation:
literalness (adhereing to the concrete construal of something)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Without interpretation or embellishment
Context example:
a literal depiction of the scene before him
Similar:
exact (marked by strict and particular and complete accordance with fact)
Derivation:
literalness (adhereing to the concrete construal of something)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Limited to the explicit meaning of a word or text
Context example:
a literal translation
Similar:
denotative; explicit (in accordance with fact or the primary meaning of a term)
Also:
exact (marked by strict and particular and complete accordance with fact)
unrhetorical (not rhetorical)
Antonym:
figurative ((used of the meanings of words or text) not literal; using figures of speech)
Derivation:
literalness (adhereing to the concrete construal of something)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Avoiding embellishment or exaggeration (used for emphasis)
Context example:
it's the literal truth
Similar:
plain (not elaborate or elaborated; simple)
Context examples
The literal identifier of an electrocardiogram vendor.
(Electrocardiogram Vendor Name, NCI Thesaurus)
The literal identifier of a disposition as determined by a standards organization.
(Disposition Dictionary Derived Term, NCI Thesaurus)
The literal identifier of an exposure treatment.
(Exposure Reported Name of Treatment, NCI Thesaurus)
The literal identifier of a file that is not located within a specific record.
(External Filename, NCI Thesaurus)
The literal identifier of the laboratory that performs a service.
(Laboratory Vendor Name, NCI Thesaurus)
The literal identifier of an investigator.
(Investigator Name, NCI Thesaurus)
The literal identifier of a thing as determined by a standards organization.
(Dictionary-derived Term, NCI Thesaurus)
The literal identifier of the therapy or medication that is currently being given per protocol.
(Current Therapy, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)
The literal identifier of a planned point in time.
(Planned Time Point Name, NCI Thesaurus)
"Really, Mother? Where are our bundles?" asked Amy, who was a very literal young lady.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
| Learn English with... Proverbs |
"If the thought is good, your place and path are good; if the thought is bad, your place and path are bad." (Bhutanese proverb)
"A mouth that praises and a hand that kills." (Arabic proverb)
"Forbidden fruit is the sweetest." (Czech proverb)