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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

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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. 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.

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

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › literal

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   literal: [adjective] according with the letter of the scriptures. adhering to fact or to the ordinary construction or primary meaning of a term or expression : actual. free from exaggeration or embellishment. characterized by a concern mainly with facts.

4. 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.

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

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   7 meanings: 1. in exact accordance with or limited to the primary or explicit meaning of a word or text 2. word for word 3..... Click for more definitions.

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. ... Definitions of literal. adjective. limited to the explicit meaning of a word or text

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

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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   The literal meaning of ‘petrify’ is ‘turn to stone’. compare figurative, metaphorical. Take your English to the next level. The Oxford Learner’s Thesaurus explains the difference between groups of similar words. Try it for free as part of the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app

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

   www.thefreedictionary.com › literal

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   Define literal. literal synonyms, literal pronunciation, literal translation, English dictionary definition of literal. taking words in their primary sense without metaphor or allegory: the literal meaning of a word; expressed by letters; actual, factual, truthful, ...

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

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

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   LITERAL definition: The literal meaning of a word or phrase is its real or original meaning: . Learn more.

10. www.yourdictionary.com › literalLiteral Definition & Meaning | YourDictionary

    www.yourdictionary.com › literal

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    Literal definition: Conforming or limited to the simplest, nonfigurative, or most obvious meaning of a word or words.

11. en.wiktionary.org › wiki › literalliteral - Wiktionary, the free dictionary

    en.wiktionary.org › wiki › literal

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    5 days ago · literal (plural literals) (epigraphy, typography) A misprint (or occasionally a scribal error) that affects a letter . ( programming) A value, as opposed to an identifier, written into the source code of a computer program. ( logic) A propositional variable or the negation of a propositional variable. Wp.