Library / English Dictionary

METONYMICAL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (adjective) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Using the name of one thing for that of another with which it is closely associated

Example:

to say 'he spent the evening reading Shakespeare' is metonymic because it substitutes the author himself for the author's works

Synonyms:

metonymic; metonymical

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

figurative; nonliteral ((used of the meanings of words or text) not literal; using figures of speech)

Derivation:

metonym (a word that denotes one thing but refers to a related thing)

metonymy (substituting the name of an attribute or feature for the name of the thing itself (as in 'they counted heads'))

Credits