Definition
A figure of speech that describes one thing as if it were something else, drawing an implicit comparison without using 'like' or 'as' (which would make it a simile). Metaphors are fundamental to language and help communicate complex ideas through familiar references.
Example Usage
When she called her mind 'a computer,' she used a metaphor to describe how her thoughts are organized.
Origin
From Greek 'metaphorá,' combining 'metá' (beyond/across) and 'pherein' (to carry)—literally 'to carry across.'
Fun Fact
Cognitive linguists argue that much of everyday language and thought is deeply metaphorical, with our understanding of abstract concepts grounded in physical experience.
Source: Definition backfill (hailey)
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