/ˈmetəfə(r) ||; ˈmɛtəfɚ/noun [C,U] a word or phrase that is used in an imaginative way to show that sb/sth has the same qualities as another thing. ‘Her words were a knife in his heart’ is a metaphor. 隐喻，暗喻（如Her words were a knife in his heart.“她的话犹如一把利刀刺透了他的心。”就是隐喻） ☞Look at figurative and literal. 参看figurative及literal。 ☞Compare simile. 与simile比较。 ➔metaphorical /ˌmetəˈfɒrɪkl; US -ˈfɔ:r- ||; ˌmɛtəˈfɔrɪkḷ/ adj ➔metaphorically /-kli ||; -klɪ/ adv