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1. Dictionary

   lit·er·al

   /ˈlidərəl/

   adjective

   • 1. taking words in their usual or most basic sense without metaphor or allegory: "dreadful in its literal sense, full of dread"
   • ▪ free from exaggeration or distortion: "you shouldn't take this as a literal record of events" Similar strictfactualplainsimplebareexactstraightforwardstarkunvarnishedunexaggeratedunembellishedundistortedunadulteratedobjectivenarrowcorrecttruetruthfulfaithfulaccurategenuineauthenticveritableveraciousgospelOpposite metaphoricalfigurativelooseapproximate
   • ▪ absolute (used to emphasize that a strong expression is deliberately chosen to convey one's feelings): informal "fifteen years of literal hell"
   • 2. (of a translation) representing the exact words of the original text: "a literal translation from the Spanish" Similar word-for-wordverbatimline-for-lineletter-for-letterexactprecisefaithfulclosestrictto the letterundeviatingtrueaccuraterare:literatimOpposite looseliberalvague
   • ▪ (of a visual representation) exactly copied; realistic as opposed to abstract or impressionistic.
   • 3. (of a person or performance) lacking imagination; prosaic: "his interpretation was rather too literal" Similar literal-mindeddown-to-earthfactualmatter-of-factno-nonsenseunsentimentallevelheadedhardheadedprosaicunimaginativecolorlesspedestriantediousboringdullhumdrumuninspireduninspiringprosyOpposite whimsical
   • 4. of, in, or expressed by a letter or the letters of the alphabet: "literal mnemonics"

   noun

   • 1. a misprint of a letter. British

   Word Origin late Middle English: from Old French, or from late Latin litteralis, from Latin littera (see letter).

   Derivatives

   • 1. literality noun
   • 2. literalness noun

   Scrabble Points: 7

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2. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › literalLiteral Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › literal

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   The meaning of LITERAL is according with the letter of the scriptures. How to use literal in a sentence.

3. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishLITERAL | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   LITERAL definition: 1. The literal meaning of a word is its original, basic meaning: 2. A literal translation of a…. Learn more.

4. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › literalLiteral - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms - Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › literal

   To describe something as literal is to say that it is exactly what it seems to be. For example, if you put up a literal barrier to keep the world out, you've actually built a real wall.

5. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishLITERAL definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   If you describe something as the literal truth or a literal fact, you are emphasizing that it is true.

6. www.thefreedictionary.com › literalLiteral - definition of literal by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › literal

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   adj. 1. Conforming or limited to the simplest, nonfigurative, or most obvious meaning of a word or words. 2. Word for word; verbatim: a literal translation. 3. Avoiding exaggeration, metaphor, or embellishment; factual; prosaic: a literal description; a literal mind. 4. Consisting of, using, or expressed by letters: literal notation. n. Computers.

7. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishliteral adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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   Definition of literal adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

8. www.oed.com › dictionary › literal_adjliteral, adj. & n. meanings, etymology and more - Oxford English...

   www.oed.com › dictionary › literal_adj

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   Of, relating to, or of the nature of a letter, or the letters, of the alphabet. Also: consisting of or expressed in letters; written. Now rare. † voice of literal speech (quot. a 1398): †the sounds represented by the letters (obsolete).