Figurative Language Terms and Definitions
Symbol Definition: An object that represents, stands for, or suggests an idea
Symbol Definition: An object that represents, stands for, or suggests an idea Examples: The color white often represents purity or innocence. The bald eagle often represents the United States.
Alliteration Definition: Repeated consonant or vowel sounds at the beginning of words
Alliteration Definition: Repeated consonant or vowel sounds at the beginning of words Examples: My neighbors are not normally noisy. The candy was killing my cavity.
Hyperbole Definition: Over exaggeration to make a point
Hyperbole Definition: Over exaggeration to make a point Example: The backpack weighed a ton! She was as tall as a giraffe.
Oxymoron Definition: Using two words that have opposite meanings but together make sense
Oxymoron Definition: Using two words that have opposite meanings but together make sense Example: Same difference Pretty ugly Seriously funny
Simile Definition: A comparison of two things using like or as.
Simile Definition: A comparison of two things using like or as. Example: The road twisted like a pretzel. I slept like a baby.
Metaphor Definition: Comparison of two things without using like or as.
Metaphor Definition: Comparison of two things without using like or as. Example: Rob was a walking dictionary. The toddler is a silly monkey.
Personification Definition: Giving human qualities to something that isn’t human.
Personification Definition: Giving human qualities to something that isn’t human. Example: The leaves danced through the wind. The wilted flowers begged for water.
Onomatopoeia Definition: words whose meaning are the same as the sounds they make.
Onomatopoeia Definition: words whose meaning are the same as the sounds they make. Example: The bees were buzzing around the hive. The motor was humming all day.
Imagery Definition: descriptive words and details that creates an picture in the reader's mind
Imagery Definition: descriptive words and details that creates a picture in the reader's mind Example: The rainbow colored parrot soared through the trees.
Assonance Definition: the same vowel sound is repeated
Assonance Definition: the same vowel sound is repeated Example: Go mow the lawn. The need for speed.
Cliché Definition: a phrase that is overused and has lost meaning
Cliché Definition: a phrase that is overused and has lost meaning Example: Waking up on the wrong side on the bed. Every cloud has a silver lining.
Allusion Definition: a reference to another person, place, thing, object, or something that has happened "8A4IXbzOrTKs.99
Allusion Definition: a reference to another person, place, thing, object, or something that has happened Example: “I was surprised his nose was not growing like Pinnochio's" "You're acting like the Grinch!"