figurative sense

collocation in English

meaningsoffigurativeandsense

These words are often used together. Click on the links below to explore the meanings. Or,see other collocations withsense.
figurative
adjective
uk
/ˈfɪɡ.ər.ə.tɪv/us
/ˈfɪɡ.jɚ.ə.tɪv/
(of words and phrases) used not with their basic meaning but with a more imaginative meaning, in order to create a ...
See more atfigurative
sense
noun
uk
/sens/us
/sens/
an ability to understand, recognize, value, or react to something, especially any of the five physical abilities to see, hear, smell, taste, ...
See more atsense

(Definition offigurativeandsensefrom theCambridge English Dictionary© Cambridge University Press)

Examplesoffigurative sense

These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
Cumulatively, internal security institutions reveal a geography of state power-in concrete terms of empowerment, capacity, and penetration, and in afigurativesenseas well.
From theCambridge English Corpus
That has a certainfigurativesensetoo because often one cannot see the facts because of the metaphorical dust raised by controversy.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
No one will deny that the community health services will be toothless wonders in thefigurativesense.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
I do not know whether, in afigurativesense, the lion.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
That is true in itsfigurativesense.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
In a transferred orfigurativesense, it could mean a cloak or a disguise.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
This means in afigurativesensethat a company should be made up to a place, where one would like to work!
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Thefigurativesenseof the word has ground in mechanics comparable to figurative uses of steamroller or battering ram to mean something overwhelming.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
The compound adjective high-octane is recorded in afigurativesensefrom 1944.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Sometimes the word "leak" is used in afigurativesense.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
A new church in afigurativesensecame along in 1846, when the congregation was unable to find a pastor.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Until very recently, thefigurativesenseof red herring was thought to originate from a supposed technique of training young scent hounds.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
The narrator is invisible in afigurativesense, in that people refuse to see him, and also experiences a kind of dissociation.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
There is much evidence that the word was constantly used in afigurativesenseto signify a distinguished residence or palace.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Fellini's dreams are always surprising and, in afigurativesense, original, but his memories are pervaded by a deeper, more delicate sentiment.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
Various figurative senses of the word have been extended from its original sense.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
In modern term, "fructus" more or less corresponds to profit one may make, as when selling the fruits (in both literal and figurative senses) of ground or renting a house.
From
Wikipedia
This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
Want to learn more?
Go to the definition offigurative
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See other collocations withsense