literal

/'litərəl/
Học thuật
Thân thiện
literal

A literal translation captures the exact words of the original text.

Definition

  1. Adjective:

    • Avoiding embellishment or exaggeration: Refers to something stated in a completely factual and straightforward way, without any added detail or dramatic effect. Often used for emphasis.
    • Limited to the explicit meaning of a word or text: Describes the most basic, original, or dictionary meaning of a word, as opposed to its figurative or metaphorical sense.
    • Being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something: Describes something that is true and accurate in substance, not merely in appearance.

  2. Noun:

    • A mistake in printed matter: A technical term for an error, such as a misspelling or typographical mistake, that occurs during the printing process.
Examples of Usage

  • Adjective:

    • He meant his threat in a literal sense. (He genuinely intended to carry out the threat as stated.)
    • A literal translation of the idiom would be confusing. (A word-for-word translation does not convey the idiom's intended meaning.)
    • The movie is a literal adaptation of the novel. (The movie follows the novel's plot very closely and accurately.)
    • It was a literal desert, with no vegetation in sight. (It was a real, genuine desert.)

  • Noun:

    • The first edition contained several embarrassing literals. (The first print run had several typographical errors.)
Advanced Usage
  • "To take something literally": To interpret words in their most basic, factual sense, often missing implied or metaphorical meaning.
    • When I said I was "dying of boredom," I didn't mean you to take it literally.
  • "The literal truth": The exact, unvarnished facts without any distortion.
    • He swore he was telling the literal truth about the event.
Variants and Related Words
  • Literally (adverb): In a literal manner or sense; exactly. (Note: In informal use, it is often used for emphasis, similar to "virtually" or "completely," though this is considered by some to be an incorrect usage.)
    • The city was literally destroyed by the earthquake. (Formal: The city was actually destroyed. Informal: The city was very severely damaged.)
  • Literalness (noun): The quality of being literal.
    • The literalness of his interpretation made the poem seem dull.
Synonyms
  • Adjective: Factual, exact, verbatim, word-for-word, true, actual, genuine, plain, unembellished.
  • Noun: Typo, misprint, erratum, error.
Antonyms
  • Adjective: Figurative, metaphorical, symbolic, exaggerated, embellished, loose, implied.
Related Phrases and Idioms
  • "Literal-minded": Tending to interpret words in a strict, factual way, often lacking imagination or missing nuances.
    • His literal-minded response showed he didn't understand the joke.
literal

A literal translation captures the exact words of the original text.

Adjective
  1. avoiding embellishment or exaggeration (used for emphasis)
    • it's the literal truth
  2. limited to the explicit meaning of a word or text
    • a literal translation
  3. without interpretation or embellishment
    • a literal depiction of the scene before him
  4. being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something
    • her actual motive
    • a literal solitude like a desert- G.K.Chesterton
    • a genuine dilemma
Noun
  1. a mistake in printed matter resulting from mechanical failures of some kind

Từ đồng nghĩa

Từ trái nghĩa

Từ tương tự

Từ gần giống

Từ chứa "literal"

Từ có nhắc đến "literal"