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   literal

   /ˈlɪt(ə)rəl/

   adjective

   • 1. taking words in their usual or most basic sense without metaphor or exaggeration: "dreadful in its literal sense, full of dread"
   • ▪ free from exaggeration or distortion: "you shouldn't take this as a literal record of events" Similar strictfactualplainsimplebareexactstraightforwardstarkunvarnishedunexaggeratedunembellishedundistortedunadulteratedobjectivenarrowcorrecttruetruthfulfaithfulaccurategenuineauthenticveritableveraciousgospelOpposite metaphoricalfigurativelooseapproximate
   • ▪ absolute (used to emphasize that a strong expression is deliberately chosen to convey one's feelings): informal "fifteen years of literal hell"
   • 2. (of a translation) representing the exact words of the original text: "a literal translation from the Spanish" Similar word-for-wordverbatimline-for-lineletter-for-letterexactprecisefaithfulclosestrictto the letterundeviatingtrueaccuraterare:literatimOpposite looseliberalvague
   • ▪ (of a visual representation) exactly copied; realistic as opposed to abstract or impressionistic.
   • 3. (of a person or performance) lacking imagination; prosaic: "his interpretation was rather too literal" Similar literal-mindeddown-to-earthfactualmatter-of-factno-nonsenseunsentimentallevel-headedhard-headedprosaicunimaginativecolourlesspedestriantediousboringdullhumdrumuninspireduninspiringprosyOpposite whimsical
   • 4. of, in, or expressed by a letter or the letters of the alphabet: "literal mnemonics"

   noun

   • 1. a misprint of a letter. British

   Word Origin late Middle English: from Old French, or from late Latin litteralis, from Latin littera (see letter).

   Derivatives

   • 1. literality noun
   • 2. literalness noun

   Scrabble Points: 7

   • L

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   • I

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   • T

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   • E

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   • R

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   • A

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   • L

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2. People also ask

   What is the literal meaning of a word?

   • LITERAL definition: 1. The literal meaning of a word is its original, basic meaning: 2. A literal translation of a…. Learn more.

   LITERAL | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/literal

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   What is a literal translation?

   • 1. in accordance with, involving, or being the primary or strict meaning of a word or words; not figurative or metaphorical. 2. following the words of the original very closely and exactly: a literal translation. 3. true to fact; unembellished; actual or factual: a literal description of conditions.

   Literal - definition of literal by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com/literal

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   What is the difference between literal and literal?

   • The word literal means, adhering to fact or primary meaning or exact, verbatim, without exaggeration. Literally means, in a literal sense, actually. Now, the problem with the word literally is that it is used most often as hyperbole or in an exaggerative sense. Obvious example: “The guy's literally an asshole.”

   What does 'literally' mean? I am so confused, literally. Do ... - Quora

   www.quora.com/What-does-literally-mean-I-am-so-confused-literally-Do-people-use-literally-the-wrong-way-See-the-description

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   What does literally mean?

   • ‘’Literally’’ meansin the exact meaning of the word/expression’, as opposed to figuratively. It is derived from the Latin ‘’litera’’ meaning letter, as in letter of the alphabet. ‘’Litera’’ is also found in the words literate and illiterate.

   What does 'literally' mean? I am so confused, literally. Do ... - Quora

   www.quora.com/What-does-literally-mean-I-am-so-confused-literally-Do-people-use-literally-the-wrong-way-See-the-description

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3. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishLITERAL | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   Learn the meaning of literal as an adjective that describes words or expressions with their original, basic meaning or translation. See how to use literal in sentences and compare it with figurative.

   • English (US)

     LITERAL meaning: 1. The literal meaning of a word is its...

   • Znaczenie Literal, Definicja W Cambridge English Dictionary

     literal definicja: 1. The literal meaning of a word is its...

   • Literal: Arabic Translation

     LITERAL translate: حَرفي. Learn more in the Cambridge...

   • Literal: Korean Translation

     LITERAL translate: 문자의. Learn more in the Cambridge...

   • Pronunciation in English

     LITERAL pronunciation. How to say LITERAL. Listen to the...

   • Simplified

     LITERAL translate: （意义）字面的，根本的, 逐字（翻译）的. Learn more in the...

   • LITERAL in Japanese

     LITERAL translate: 文字どおりの, 文字通（もじどお）りの. Learn more in the...

   • Vietnamese Translation

     LITERAL translate: theo nghĩa đen, theo nghĩa của chữ. Learn...

4. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › literalLiteral Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › literal

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   Learn the meaning of literal as an adjective and a noun, with synonyms, examples, and word history. Find out how literal differs from figurative, irony, and hyperbole.

5. Videos

   • 

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     Literal Language | Definition & Examples

     13 Aug 2015

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     merriam-webster.com

     Definition of LITERAL

     27 Jan 2010

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     5:24

     study.com

     Literal vs. Figurative Language | Definition & Examples

     19 Oct 2017

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6. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › literalLiteral - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › literal

   To describe something as literal is to say that it is exactly what it seems to be. For example, if you put up a literal barrier to keep the world out, you've actually built a real wall.

7. www.thefreedictionary.com › literalLiteral - definition of literal by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › literal

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   Literal means taking words in their primary sense without metaphor or allegory, or word for word. It can also mean true, actual, or expressed by letters. See different sources and usage of literal.

8. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishLITERAL definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   Learn the meaning and usage of the word literal, which can describe a word or phrase in its most basic sense, a translation that follows the original words, or a person who is unimaginative. Find synonyms, pronunciation, and related terms for literal.

9. www.dictionary.com › browse › literalLITERAL Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › literal

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   Literal definition: in accordance with, involving, or being the primary or strict meaning of the word or words; not figurative or metaphorical. See examples of LITERAL used in a sentence.

10. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definitionliteral adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and ...

    www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition

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    Learn the meaning of literal as an adjective that describes the basic or exact sense of a word or phrase, rather than a figurative or poetic one. See how to use literal in sentences and compare it with irony and metaphor.