Examples of words and expressions with a figurative meaning:

As we can see, words acquire a figurative meaning when they are used together with certain words (which do not have such a quality in the literal sense). For example, nerves cannot literally be made of iron, so this is a figurative meaning, but iron ore just consists of iron (the phrase has a direct meaning).

Any word in Russian initially has one or more direct meanings. That is, the word Key can mean how we close the lock on the front door and can mean water spouting from the ground. In both cases, this is the direct meaning of a polysemantic word. But almost every word in Russian can be given a figurative meaning. For example, in the expression key to all doors, not a word key, not a word doors are not used in their direct meaning. Here the key is the possibility of solving the problem, and the doors are the very problem. The figurative meaning of words is often used by poets, for example, in the famous poem by Pushkin, every word has a figurative meaning:

Or here is the famous young man at Bryusov, who had a burning eye, of course, burning in a figurative sense.

The direct meaning of the word strictly correlates with a certain thing, attribute, action, quality, etc. A word may have a figurative meaning at points of contact, similarity with another object in form, function, color, purpose, etc.

Examples of the meaning of words:

table (furniture) - address table, table 9 (diet);

black color - back door (auxiliary), black thoughts (cheerless);

a bright room - a bright mind, a bright head;

dirty rag - dirty thoughts;

cold wind - cold heart;

golden cross - golden hands, golden heart;

heavy burden - heavy look;

heart valve - cardiac reception;

gray mouse - gray man.

A large number of words and figures of speech in the Russian language can be used both in the direct and figurative (figurative) sense.

The direct meaning usually completely coincides with the original meaning, the narrator means exactly what he says.

We use words in a figurative sense in order to give figurativeness to our speech, to emphasize some quality or action.

The examples below will help feel the differencequot ;:

The language is in constant development, those words that a few decades ago were used only in the literal sense, can begin to be used figuratively - a birdhouse - a starling's house, a birdhouse - a traffic police post, a zebra - an animal, a zebra - a pedestrian crossing.

The direct is the primary meaning of a word, the figurative is the secondary. Here are some examples:

Golden earrings - direct meaning.

My husband has golden hands - figurative meaning.

Rain worm- direct.

Book worm- portable.

Silver ring - straight.

Silver century - portable.

Burning in the sky star- direct.

Star screen - portable.

Icy sculpture - direct.

Icy smile is portable.

Sugar buns - straight.

Mouth sugar- portable.

Woolen a blanket- direct.

Winter covered everything around with snow blanket- portable.

mink fur coat- direct.

Herring under fur coat- portable.

Marble plate - straight.

Marble cupcake - portable.

Black suit - direct.

Leave for black day - portable.

Sweet tea - sweet kitty, sweet music.

Crying in pain - the prison is crying (for someone).

Soft plasticine - soft light, soft heart.

Sunny day - sunny soul, sunny smile.

A plastic bag is a social package (about vacations, sick leave).

Wolverine skin is a venal skin.

Garden flowers - flowers of life (about children).

Green fruits - green generation.

Woodpecker (bird) - woodpecker (informer).

To poison with pills - to poison with moral violence.

The direct meaning of a word is when the word is used in the sense it originally was. For example: sweet porridge.

The figurative meaning of the word is when the word is not used in the literal sense, such as sweet deception.

In Russian, words can have both direct and figurative meanings. Under direct meaning understand words that name an object of reality or its property. At the same time, the meaning of such words does not depend on the context, we immediately imagine what they call. For example:

Based on the direct meaning, the word may have additional lexical meanings, which are called portable. The figurative meaning is based on the similarity of objects or phenomena in appearance, properties or actions performed.

Compare: stone house and stone face. In the phrase stone house, the adjective stone is used in the literal sense (solid, motionless, strong), and in the phrase stone face, the same adjective is used in a figurative sense (insensitive, unfriendly, harsh).

Here are some examples of the direct and figurative meaning of words:

Many stylistic figures or literary tropes are built on the basis of figurative meaning (metonymy, personification, metaphor, synecdoche, allegory, epithet, hyperbole).

There are a lot of words with direct and figurative meaning in Russian. And as a rule, all these meanings are reflected in dictionaries. Periodically it is very useful to look there.

Examples of words and phrases with a figurative meaning:

• to step on a rake, figuratively - to get a negative experience.
• prick up your ears - become very attentive,
• reel fishing rods - leave, and not necessarily from fishing,
• stone heart - an insensitive person,
• sour mine - a displeased expression.
• work hard - work hard
• sharp tongue - the ability to formulate accurate, well-aimed and even caustic information.

Here, I remembered.

But in fact, the fact is very interesting that words can have not only a direct meaning, but also a figurative one.

If we talk about the direct meaning, then in the text we mean exactly the lexical meaning of a particular word. But the figurative meaning means the transfer of the meaning of the lexical initial in the consequence with comparison

And here are some examples:

The main means of giving imagery to a word is its use in a figurative sense. The play of direct and figurative meaning generates both aesthetic and expressive effects of a literary text, makes this text figurative and expressive.

On the basis of the nominative (naming) function of the word and its connection with the subject in the process of cognition of reality, direct (basic, main, primary, initial) and figurative (derivative, secondary, indirect) meanings are distinguished.

In the derivative meaning, the main, direct meaning and the new, indirect meaning, which appeared as a result of the transfer of the name from one object to another, are combined, coexist. If the word in direct meaning directly (directly) indicates a particular object, action, property, etc., naming them, then the words in portable meaning, the object is no longer called directly, but through certain comparisons and associations that arise in the minds of native speakers.

AIR– 1) ‘adj. to air (air jet)’;

2) ‘light, weightless ( airy dress)’.

The appearance of figurative meanings in a word makes it possible to save the lexical means of the language without endlessly expanding the vocabulary to designate new phenomena, concepts. If there are some common features between two objects, the name from one, already known, is transferred to another object, newly created, invented or known, which did not have a name before:

DIM- 1) ‘opaque, cloudy ( dull glass)’;

2) ‘matte, not shiny ( dull polish, dull hair)’;

3) ‘weak, not bright ( dim light, dim color)’;

4) ‘lifeless, inexpressive ( dull look, dull style)’.

D.N. Shmelev believes that the direct, basic meaning is one that is not determined by the context (the most paradigmatically conditioned and the least syntagmatically conditioned):

ROAD– 1) ‘way of communication, a strip of land intended for movement’;

2) ‘journey, trip’;

3) ‘route’;

4) ‘means of achieving some sl. goals'.

All secondary, figurative meanings depend on the context, on compatibility with other words: to pack(‘trip’), direct road to success, road to Moscow.

Historically, the relationship between direct, primary and figurative, secondary meaning may change. So, in the modern Russian language, the primary meanings for the words devour(‘eat, eat’), dense('dormant'), vale('valley'). Word thirst in our time, it has the main direct meaning ‘need to drink’ and figurative ‘strong, passionate desire’, but Old Russian texts indicate the primacy of the second, more abstract meaning, since the adjective is often used next to it water.

Value transfer paths

The transfer of meanings can be carried out in two main ways: metaphorical and metonymic.

Metaphor- this is the transfer of names according to the similarity of signs, concepts (metaphor - unexpressed comparison): pin stars; what crest won't you comb your head?

Signs of metaphorical transfer:

1. by color similarity gold leaves);
2. similarity of form ( ring boulevards);
3. by the similarity of the location of the object ( nose boats, sleeve rivers);
4. by similarity of actions ( rain drumming, wrinkles furrow face);
5. by the similarity of sensations, emotional associations ( gold character, velvet voice);
6. by similarity of functions ( electric candle in the lamp turn off/ignite light, wipers in car).

This classification is rather conditional. Proof - transfer on several grounds: leg chair(form, place); ladle excavator(function, form).

There are other classifications as well. For example, prof. Galina Al-dr. Cherkasova considers metaphorical transfer in connection with the category of animateness / inanimateness:

1. the action of an inanimate object is transferred to another inanimate object ( fireplace– ‘room stove’ and ‘electric heater’; wing- ‘birds’, ‘aircraft blade, mills’, ‘side extension’);
2. animate - also on an animate object, but of a different group ( bear, snake);
3. inanimate - to animate ( she is blossomed );
4. animate to inanimate ( escort- 'patrol ship').

The main tendencies of metaphorical transfer: figurative meanings appear in words that are socially significant at a given time. During the Great Patriotic War, everyday words were used as metaphors to define military concepts: comb through forest, get into boiler . Subsequently, on the contrary, military terms were transferred to other concepts: front works, take on armament . Sports vocabulary gives a lot of figurative meanings: finish, start, move. With the development of astronautics, metaphors appeared high point, space velocity, dock. Currently, a large number of metaphors are associated with the computer sphere: mouse, archive, maternal pay etc.

There are models of metaphorical transfer in the language: certain groups of words form certain metaphors.

• professional characteristics of a person artist, craftsman, philosopher, shoemaker, clown, chemist);
• disease-related names ulcer, plague, cholera, delirium);
• names of natural phenomena when they are transferred to human life ( Spring life, hail tears);
• names of household items rag, mattress etc.);
• transferring the names of animal actions to humans ( bark, mumble).

Metonymy(Greek ‘renaming’) is such a name transfer, which is based on the adjacency of the features of two or more concepts: paper– ‘document’.

Types of metonymic transfer:

1. transfer by spatial adjacency ( audience- 'people', Class– ‘children’): (a) transferring the name of the containing to the content ( all village came out city worried, all embankment ate plate, read Pushkin ); (b) the name of the material from which the object is made is transferred to the object ( To go to silks, in gold; in scarlet and gold dressed forests; dancing gold );
2. adjacency transfer about d – transfer of the name of the action to the result ( dictation, essay, cookies, jam, embroidery);
3. synecdoche(a) transferring the name of a part of the whole to the whole ( hundred goals livestock; behind him eye Yes eye needed; he is seven mouths feeds; he is mine right hand; a heart heart the message) - often found in proverbs; (b) whole to part ( jasmine– ‘bush’ and ‘flowers’; plum- 'tree' and 'fruit'.

This classification does not cover the whole variety of metonymic transfers that exist in the language.

Sometimes when transferring, grammatical features of the word are used, for example, plural. number: workers arms, rest on south, To go to silks . It is believed that the basis of metonymic transfer is nouns.

In addition to common language portable values, in the language of fiction there are also figurative use words that are characteristic of the work of a particular writer and are one of the means of artistic representation. For example, in L. Tolstoy: fair and Kind sky("War and Peace"); at A.P. Chekhov: crumbly ("The Last Mohican") cozy lady(“From the Memoirs of an Idealist”), faded aunties("Hopeless"); in the works of K.G. Paustovsky: shy sky("Mikhailovskaya grove"), sleepy dawn("The Third Date") molten noon("The Romantics") sleepy day("Marine habit"), white-blooded bulb("The Book of Wanderings"); V. Nabokov: overcast tense day("Protection of Luzhin"), etc.

Like metaphor, metonymy can be individual-author's - contextual, i.e. conditioned by the contextual use of the word, it does not exist outside the given context: "You're so stupid, brother!" - said reproachfully handset (E. Meek); redheads trousers sigh and think(A.P. Chekhov); Short fur coats, sheepskin coats crowded...(M. Sholokhov).

Such figurative meanings, as a rule, are not reflected in dictionary interpretations. Dictionaries reflect only regular, productive, generally accepted transfers fixed by language practice, which continue to arise, playing a large role in enriching the vocabulary of the language.

Direct and figurative meaning of the word

Each word has a basic lexical meaning.

For example, desk- this is a school table, green- color of grass or foliage, there is- it means to eat.

The meaning of the word is called direct if the sound of a word accurately indicates an object, action or sign.

Sometimes the sound of one word is transferred to another object, action or feature based on similarity. The word has a new lexical meaning, which is called portable .

Consider examples of direct and figurative meanings of words. If a person says a word sea, he and his interlocutors have an image of a large body of water with salt water.

Rice. 1. Black Sea ()

This is the direct meaning of the word sea. And in combinations sea ​​of ​​lights, sea of ​​people, sea of ​​books we see the figurative meaning of the word sea, which means a lot of something or someone.

Rice. 2. City lights ()

Gold coins, earrings, goblet are items made of gold.

This is the direct meaning of the word gold. The phrases have a figurative meaning: goldenhair- hair with a brilliant yellow tint, skillful fingers- so they say about the ability to do something well, goldena heart- so they say about a person who does good.

Word heavy has a direct meaning - to have a significant mass. For example, heavy load, box, briefcase.

Rice. 6. Heavy load ()

The following phrases have a figurative meaning: heavy task- complex, which is not easy to solve; hard day- a hard day that requires effort; hard look- gloomy, severe.

girl jumping and temperature fluctuates.

In the first case - direct value, in the second - figurative (rapid change in temperature).

boy running- direct meaning. Time is running out- portable.

Frost bound the river- figurative meaning - means that the water in the river is frozen.

Rice. 11. River in winter ()

House wall- direct meaning. Heavy rain is: rain wall. This is a portable meaning.

Read the poem:

What is that wonder?

The sun is shining, the rain is falling

By the river is big beautiful

The rainbow bridge rises.

If the sun shines bright

The rain is pouring mischievously,

So this rain, children,

called mushroom!

Mushroom rain- figurative meaning.

As we already know, words with multiple meanings are polysemantic.

A figurative meaning is one of the meanings of a polysemantic word.

It is possible to determine in what meaning a word is used only from the context, i.e. in a sentence. For example:

Candles were burning on the table. direct meaning.

His eyes burned with happiness. Figurative meaning.

You can turn to the explanatory dictionary for help. The first is always given the direct meaning of the word, and then the figurative.

Consider an example.

Cold -

1. having a low temperature. Wash hands with cold water. A cold wind was blowing from the north.

2. Translated. About clothes. Cold coat.

3. Translated. About color. Cold shades of the picture.

4. Translated. About emotions. Cold look. Cold meeting.

Consolidation of knowledge in practice

Let's determine which of the highlighted words are used in a direct and which in a figurative sense.

At the table, the mother said:

- Enough chatting.

And son carefully:

- BUT dangle your feet can?

Rice. 16. Mom and son ()

Let's check: babble- figurative meaning; dangle your feet- direct.

Flocks of birds fly away

Away, beyond the blue sea,

All the trees are shining

in multicolored attire.

Rice. 17. Birds in autumn ()

Let's check: blue ocean- direct meaning; multi-colored tree decoration- portable.

The breeze asked as it flew by:

- Why are you rye, golden?

And in response, the spikelets rustle:

- Golden us arms are growing.

Let's check: golden rye- figurative meaning; golden hands- figurative meaning.

Let's write down the phrases and determine whether they are used in a direct or figurative sense.

Clean hands, an iron nail, a heavy suitcase, a wolf's appetite, a heavy character, Olympian calmness, an iron hand, a golden ring, a golden man, a wolf's skin.

Let's check: clean hands- direct, iron nail- direct, heavy bag- direct, wolfish appetite- portable, heavy character- portable, Olympian calm- portable, iron hand- portable, gold ring- direct, Golden man- portable, wolf skin- direct.

Let's make phrases, write down phrases in a figurative sense.

Evil (frost, wolf), black (paints, thoughts), runs (athlete, stream), hat (mother's, snow), tail (foxes, trains), hit (frost, with a hammer), drumming (rain, musician).

Let's check: an evil frost, black thoughts, a stream runs, a cap of snow, a tail of a train, frost hit, rain drums.

In this lesson, we learned that words have a direct and figurative meaning. The figurative meaning makes our speech figurative, vivid. Therefore, writers and poets are very fond of using figurative meaning in their works.

In the next lesson, we will learn what part of the word is called the root, learn how to highlight it in the word, talk about the meaning and functions of this part of the word.

1. Klimanova L.F., Babushkina T.V. Russian language. 2. - M.: Enlightenment, 2012 (http://www.twirpx.com/file/1153023/)
2. Buneev R.N., Buneeva E.V., Pronina O.V. Russian language. 2. - M.: Balass.
3. Ramzaeva T.G. Russian language. 2. - M.: Bustard.

1. Openclass.ru ().
2. Festival of pedagogical ideas "Open Lesson" ().
3. sch15-apatity.ucoz.ru ().

• Klimanova L.F., Babushkina T.V. Russian language. 2. - M.: Enlightenment, 2012. Part 2. Do ex. 28 p. 21.
• Choose the correct answer to the following questions:

1. The vocabulary of the language is studied by science:

A) phonetics

B) syntax

C) lexicology

2. The word is used in a figurative sense in both phrases:

A) stone heart, build a bridge

B) the heat of the sun, stone edition

C) golden words, make plans

3. In which row are the words polysemantic:

A) star, artificial, stone

B) single, blinds, jockey

C) rocky, caftan, composer

• * Using the knowledge gained in the lesson, come up with 4-6 sentences with words field and to give, where these words are used in direct and figurative meanings.

Many Russian words have both direct and figurative meanings. About what this phenomenon is, how to define a word in a figurative sense and how this transfer occurs, we will talk in our article.

On the direct and figurative meaning of the word

Even from the elementary grades of school, we know that words in the Russian language have a direct meaning, that is, the main one, directly related to some object or phenomenon. For example, for the noun " output" it is "an opening in a wall or fence through which one can leave an enclosed space" (Another output hid behind a secret door into the courtyard).

But besides the direct, there is also a figurative meaning of the word. Examples of such meanings for one lexical unit are often numerous. So, in the same word " output" This:

1) a way to get rid of the problem (Finally, we came up with a decent output from the situation)

2) the number of products produced (As a result output details turned out to be slightly lower than expected);

3) appearance on stage ( Output the protagonist was greeted with a standing ovation);

4) outcrop of rocks (In this place output limestone made the rocks almost white).

What affects the transfer of the meaning of the word

Depending on which feature can be associated with the transfer of the name of one object to another, linguists distinguish three types of it:

1. Metaphor (transfer is associated with the similarity of features of different objects).
2. Metonymy (based on the adjacency of objects).
3. Synecdoche (transfer of a general meaning to its part).

The figurative meaning of the word by the similarity of functions is also considered separately.

Now let's take a closer look at each of these types.

What is a metaphor

As mentioned above, a metaphor is a transfer of meaning based on the similarity of features. For example, if the objects are similar in shape (the dome of the building - the dome of the sky) or in color (gold decoration - the golden sun).

Metaphor also implies the similarity of other meanings:

• by function ( a heart human is the main organ a heart cities - the main area);
• by the nature of the sound ( grumbles old lady - grumbles kettle on the stove);
• by location ( tail animal - tail trains);
• on other grounds ( green I am youth - not mature; deep longing - it is difficult to get out of it; silk hair - smooth; soft look is pleasant).

The figurative meaning of a word in the case of a metaphor can also be based on the animation of inanimate objects, and vice versa. For example: whisper of leaves, gentle warmth, nerves of steel, an empty look, etc.

Metaphorical rethinking is also frequent, based on the convergence of objects according to seemingly different signs: a gray mouse - a gray fog - a gray day - gray thoughts; sharp knife - sharp mind - sharp eye - sharp corners (dangerous events) in life.

Metonymy

Another trope using words used in a figurative sense, - this is metonymy. It is possible under the condition of contiguity of concepts. For example, moving the name of the room ( Class) to the group of children in it ( Class rose to meet the teacher) is a metonymy. The same happens when transferring the name of an action to its result (to do baking bread - fresh bakery) or properties on their owner (to have bass- a talented aria sang bass).

According to the same principles, the author's name is transferred to his works ( Gogol- staged in the theater Gogol; Bach- listen Bach) or the name of the container to the contents ( plate- he already two plates ate). Adjacency (proximity) is also tracked when transferring the name of the material to a product made from it ( silk- she is in silks walked) or tools on a person working with him ( braid- seen here braid walked).

Metonymy is an important way of the word-formation process

With the help of metonymy, any word in a figurative sense acquires more and more new semantic loads. So, for example, the word " node" even in ancient times it turned out by transferring the meaning "a rectangular piece of matter into which some objects are tied" (take with you knot). And today, in dictionaries, other meanings have been added to it, which appeared through metonymy:

• the place where the lines of roads or rivers intersect, converge;
• part of the mechanism, consisting of tightly interacting parts;
• an important place where something is concentrated.

Thus, as you can see, the new figurative meaning of words, which arose with the help of metonymy, serves the development of vocabulary. By the way, this also saves speech efforts, as it makes it possible to replace the whole descriptive construction with just one word. For example: "early Chekhov" instead of "Chekhov in the early period of his work" or " audience” instead of “people sitting in the room and listening to the lecturer.”

One of the varieties of metonymy in linguistics is the synecdoche.

What is synecdoche

Words in a figurative sense, examples of which were given earlier, acquired a new semantic load due to some similarity or closeness of concepts. A synecdoche is a way of pointing to an object through the mention of its characteristic detail or distinctive feature. That is, as mentioned above, this is the transfer of the general meaning of the word to its part.

Here are some of the most common types of this trail.

How and when to use synecdoche

Synecdoche always depends on the context or situation, and in order to understand which words are used in a figurative sense, the author must first describe the hero or his environment. For example, it is difficult to determine from a sentence taken out of context who is being referred to: “ Beard blew smoke from a clay pipe. But from the previous story, everything becomes clear: "Next to the look of an experienced sailor, a man with a thick beard sat."

Thus, the synecdoche can be called an anaphoric trope oriented towards subtext. The designation of an object by its characteristic detail is used in colloquial speech and in literary texts to make them grotesque or humorous.

Figurative meaning of the word: examples of transfer by similarity of functions

Some linguists separately consider the transfer of meaning, under which the condition that phenomena have the same functions is satisfied. For example, a janitor is a person who cleans the yard, and a janitor in a car is a window cleaning device.

The word "counter" also has a new meaning, which was used in the sense of "a person who counts something." Now the counter is also a device.

Depending on which words in a figurative sense arise as a result of the named process, their associative connection with the original sense may disappear altogether with time.

How sometimes the transfer process affects the main meaning of the word

As already mentioned, as figurative meanings develop, a word can expand its semantic load. For example, the noun " the basis” meant only: “a longitudinal thread running along the fabric”. But as a result of the transfer, this meaning expanded and was added to it: “the main part, the essence of something”, as well as “part of a word without an ending”.

Yes, the emerging figurative meaning of polysemantic words leads to an increase in their expressive properties and contributes to the development of the language as a whole, but it is interesting that in this case some meanings of the word become obsolete and are put out of use. For example, the word " nature' has several meanings:

1. Nature ( Nature beckons me with its purity).
2. Human temperament (passionate nature).
3. Natural conditions, environment (figure from nature).
4. Replacing money with goods or products (pay off in kind).

But the first of the listed meanings, with which, by the way, this word was borrowed from the French language, is already outdated, in dictionaries it is marked “outdated.” The rest, developed with the help of transference on its basis, are actively functioning in our time.

How words are used in a figurative sense: examples

Words in a figurative sense are often used as a means of expression in fiction, the media, and also in advertising. In the latter case, the method of deliberately colliding different meanings of one word in the subtext is very popular. So, about mineral water advertising says: "Source of cheerfulness." The same technique is visible in the slogan for shoe cream: "Brilliant protection."

The authors of works of art, in order to give them brightness and imagery, use not only the already known figurative meaning of words, but also create their own versions of metaphors. For example, Blok's “silence blooms” or Yesenin's “birch Russia”, which has become very popular over time.

There are also words in which the transfer of meaning has become “dry”, “erased”. As a rule, we use such words not to convey an attitude to something, but to name an action or object (go to the goal, the bow of the boat, the back of a chair, etc.). In lexicology, they are called nominative metaphors, and in dictionaries, by the way, they are not designated as a figurative meaning.

Incorrect use of words in a figurative sense

In order for words in the literal and figurative sense to always appear in the text in their places and be justified, it is necessary to follow the rules for their use.

It should be remembered that the use of a metaphor requires the presence of similarities in the features of the object of the name and in the meaning of the word applied to it. Meanwhile, this is not always observed, and the image used as a metaphor sometimes does not evoke the necessary associations and remains unclear. For example, a journalist, speaking of a ski race, calls it a "ski bullfight" or, reporting on inanimate objects, designates their number as a duet, trio, or quartet.

Such a pursuit of "beautifulness" leads to the opposite result, forcing the reader to be perplexed, and sometimes even laugh, as in the case when it was said about Tolstoy's portrait: "Tolstoy hung in the office by the window."

Content

The word can be in both direct and figurative meaning. Such words are called polysemantic.

The direct meaning of the word

In order to directly designate an object, its action or the attribute that it possesses, the direct meaning of the word is used. Such lexical units do not raise doubts about the designation and do not change the semantic load or emotional coloring of the text. Examples:

There is a table in the middle of the room with textbooks on it.

The hare jumps along the edge of the forest among trees and bushes.

The sun's rays reflected in the window, creating glare.

Many words are used in speech only in a direct sense: with eun, apartment, sun, sad, famous.

The direct meaning of the word is its main lexical meaning.

The emergence of the figurative meaning of the word

The main lexical meaning can serve as a basis for the formation of other secondary meanings. Such values ​​are called figurative meanings and give it a completely different meaning. The basis for using the word in another sense is the similarity of one object with another, their signs or actions.

For example, when using the word " gold» in the phrase « gold ring”, the meaning of the adjective is clear, denoting a precious metal that determines the cost and value of an item.

In another example - golden hands", word " gold» acquires a figurative meaning, since it is used in a figurative lexical meaning and denotes "skillful", "active", "indispensable".

The replacement is explained by common features in meaning, external similarity. In this example, both direct and figurative meanings can be used as a synonym " precious". This justifies the ambiguity. Words that can be used not only in the literal sense are called ambiguous. Examples:

• soft carpet - soft character - soft light;
• iron door - iron will - iron discipline.

Examples of words in a figurative sense

• the heart muscle is the friend of the heart;
• earthworm - bookworm;
• hit with a stick - thunder struck;
• door handle - ballpoint pen;
• red language - English;
• an idea was born - a daughter was born;
• wave crest - hair comb;
• artistic brush - hand;
• the column of the building is a column of demonstrators;
• the sleeve of the garment is the sleeve of the river.

The figurative meaning allows you to add emotionality, figurativeness to artistic speech. Thanks to him, tropes are formed - the ambiguous use of words in fiction (litote, metonymy, comparison, epithet, metaphor).