Figurative Language Terms

Front

What is onomatopoeia?

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A word that imitates the natural sound of a thing, e.g., 'buzz', 'sizzle', 'drip drop'.

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What is an idiom?

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A phrase or expression that has a figurative meaning different from its literal meaning, e.g., 'kick the bucket' means to die.

Front

What is hyperbole?

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An exaggerated statement not meant to be taken literally, e.g., 'I'm so hungry I could eat a horse.'

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What is alliteration?

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The repetition of the same initial consonant sound in a series of words, e.g., 'She sells sea shells by the sea shore.'

Front

What is figurative language?

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Language that goes beyond the literal meanings of words to create special effects or feelings.

Front

What is a metaphor?

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A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as', e.g., 'Time is a thief.'

Front

What is a simile?

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A figure of speech that compares two different things using 'like' or 'as', e.g., 'Her smile is like the sun.'

Front

What is personification?

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Giving human characteristics to nonhuman objects, animals, or ideas, e.g., 'The wind whispered through the trees.'

Front

What is an analogy?

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A comparison between two things that are alike in some way, often used to explain something unfamiliar.

Front

What is a pun?

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A form of word play that exploits multiple meanings of a term or similarity in sound for humorous effect.