Why Does Metaphorically Mean?

Something is metaphorical when you use it to stand for, or symbolize, another thing. For example, a dark sky in a poem might be a metaphorical representation of sadness. You'll find yourself using the adjective metaphorical all the time if you take a poetry class; poems are usually full of metaphors.

What does metaphorically mean?

: in a metaphorical or figurative sense rather than a literal sense : by using a metaphor At the center of every encryption system is a secret number or mathematical operation, metaphorically referred to as a key.—

Why do we speak metaphorically?

What is the purpose of such language? According to Lakoff and Johnson (1980; 1999), metaphors allow us to understand abstract thoughts and feelings that cannot be directly seen, heard, touched, smelled, or tasted. Stated a different way, we may speak metaphorically because we think metaphorically.