---
title: figuratively — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «figuratively» in the school dictionary: In a figurative way, not with the plain word-for-word meaning. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# figuratively

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** phrase, you, speaking, She, He, climbers · **What happens:** use, speak, show, be, shine, mean · **To what, where:** phrase, image, brain, shining star, air, top · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«figuratively» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [figuratively in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/figuratively.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
In a figurative way, not with the plain word-for-word meaning.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:figuratively:m1:1
# text = In a figurative way, not with the plain word-for-word meaning.
1	In	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	figurative	figurative	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	_
4	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
6	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	_
7	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	plain	plain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	14	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	for	for	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	conj	_	_
15	meaning	meaning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .note -->
The frames reader finds no event or fact in this sentence.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Used in the phrase «figuratively speaking» to show you are using an image, not a fact.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:figuratively:m2:1
# text = Used in the phrase «figuratively speaking» to show you are using an image, not a fact.
1	Used	use	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
2	in	in	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	phrase	phrase	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obl	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	figuratively	figuratively	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	speaking	speak	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	show	show	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
11	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj	_	_
12	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
13	using	use	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	10	ccomp	_	_
14	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	15	det	_	_
15	image	image	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
17	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	19	advmod	_	_
18	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	19	det	_	_
19	fact	fact	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **use** | participle |  |  |  | the phrase |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **speak** *speech: other* *in a quote* | gerund | the phrase *not said here* |  |  |  |  | figuratively *property* | vn talk-37.5 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **show** | to-infinitive | the phrase *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 4 | **use** | present · progressive | you | a image and a fact |  |  |  |  | vn eat-39.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent image=Patient |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Figuratively speaking, my brain is full after that test.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:figuratively:x1:1
# text = Figuratively speaking, my brain is full after that test.
1	Figuratively	figuratively	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	speaking	speak	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	7	csubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	2	punct	_	_
4	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	brain	brain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
7	full	full	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
8	after	after	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	that	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	10	det	_	_
10	test	test	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **speak** *speech: other* | gerund |  | my brain |  |  |  | figuratively *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **is** | present | speaking |  |  |  | after that test | full *property* | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«She is a shining star» is meant figuratively.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:figuratively:x2:1
# text = «She is a shining star» is meant figuratively.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	shining	shine	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	amod	_	_
6	star	star	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj:pass	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux:pass	_	_
9	meant	mean	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
10	figuratively	figuratively	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **shine** *in a quote* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn light\_emission-43.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 2 | **is a** *in a quote* | present | She | a shining star |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **mean** | present · passive |  | a shining star |  |  |  | figuratively *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: subject=Topic |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He was figuratively walking on air after the win.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:figuratively:x3:1
# text = He was figuratively walking on air after the win.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
2	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	figuratively	figuratively	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
4	walking	walk	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	0	root	_	_
5	on	on	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	air	air	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
7	after	after	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	win	win	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **walk** | past · progressive | He |  |  | air | after the win | figuratively *property* | vn run-51.3.2-2-1 «NP V PP.location»: agent=Theme on air=Trajectory |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The climbers reached the top, both literally and figuratively.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:figuratively:x4:1
# text = The climbers reached the top, both literally and figuratively.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	climbers	climber	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	nsubj	_	_
3	reached	reach	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	top	top	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
7	both	both	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc:preconj	_	_
8	literally	literally	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	figuratively	figuratively	ADV	RB	_	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **reach** | past | the climbers | the top |  |  |  | literally *property* | vn body\_motion-49.2-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Agent top=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
When Mum says the house is a zoo, she means it figuratively.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:figuratively:x5:1
# text = When Mum says the house is a zoo, she means it figuratively.
1	When	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	3	advmod	_	_
2	Mum	mum	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	advcl	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
5	house	house	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	_
6	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	8	cop	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	zoo	zoo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	11	punct	_	_
10	she	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	nsubj	_	_
11	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	_
13	figuratively	figuratively	ADV	RB	_	11	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | Mum |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | the house | a zoo |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **mean** | present | Mum | house |  |  |  | figuratively *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Topic |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Can you explain this sentence figuratively and literally?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:figuratively:x6:1
# text = Can you explain this sentence figuratively and literally?
1	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	explain	explain	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	this	this	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	5	det	_	_
5	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
6	figuratively	figuratively	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
7	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	8	cc	_	_
8	literally	literally	ADV	RB	_	6	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **explain** *speech: assert* | can | you | this sentence |  |  |  | figuratively *property* | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sentence=Topic |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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