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1. Dictionary

   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

     1

   • I

     1

   • T

     1

   • E

     1

   • R

     1

   • A

     1

   • L

     1

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   More definitions, origin and scrabble points

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

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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

   • 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: German Translation

     literal - translate into German with the English-German...

   • Literal: Korean Translation

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

   • Literal: Thai Translation

     LITERAL translate: ตามความหมายที่แท้จริงของคำ, ตามตัวอักษร....

   • Literal: Indonesian Translation

     LITERAL translate: sesungguhnya, harfiah. Learn more in the...

   • Literal: Italian Translation

     literal translate: letterale, letterale; puro, letterale....

   • Literal: French Translation

     LITERAL translate: litéral/-ale, littéral, réel, littéral....

3. 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.

4. Videos

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     🔵 Literally - Literally Meaning Use and Examples - Vocabulary Builder - ESL British English

     18 Feb 2014

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5. 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.

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.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishliteral adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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   Learn the meaning, pronunciation and usage of the word literal, which means being the most basic meaning of a word or phrase, rather than an extended or poetic meaning. See examples, synonyms and contrast with figurative and metaphorical.

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

   www.thefreedictionary.com › literal

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   adj. 1. Conforming or limited to the simplest, nonfigurative, or most obvious meaning of a word or words. 2. Word for word; verbatim: a literal translation. 3. Avoiding exaggeration, metaphor, or embellishment; factual; prosaic: a literal description; a literal mind. 4. Consisting of, using, or expressed by letters: literal notation. n. Computers.

9. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-englishLITERAL | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

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   Learn the definition of literal as an adjective that describes the real or original meaning of a word or phrase. See translations of literal in different languages and examples of usage.