literal meaning

noun phrase

Meaning

The most basic, primary sense of a word or phrase, stripped of any figurative, metaphorical, or idiomatic associations.

Examples

The literal meaning of the word 'cold' is a low temperature, not a lack of emotion.
Students often struggle to separate the literal meaning of a poem from its deeper symbolic themes.

Synonyms: plain meaning, denotation, verbatim interpretation

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literal meaning

noun phrase

Pronunciation: ˈlɪtərəl ˈmiːnɪŋ

Definition

The most basic, primary sense of a word or phrase, stripped of any figurative, metaphorical, or idiomatic associations.

Examples

The literal meaning of the word 'cold' is a low temperature, not a lack of emotion.
Students often struggle to separate the literal meaning of a poem from its deeper symbolic themes.
You should take his instructions as having their literal meaning rather than looking for hidden sarcasm.

Synonyms of literal meaning

Words with a similar meaning to literal meaning:

Antonyms of literal meaning

Words with the opposite meaning to literal meaning:

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