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Literal and Figurative Meaning of Words

As we said in our last lesson, analogies can be difficult because the same word can mean different things to different people. In our next Instruction, you'll learn the difference between the denotative and connotative meaning of words (which is not as awful as it sounds). 

In this lesson, you'll learn the difference between literal and figurative meanings.

Literal means straightforward or factual; the dictionary meaning of a word. When someone says "I mean that literally ," they mean "exactly" -- just the facts!

figurative meaning is far more interesting – it's imaginative; it conveys not just the facts but an idea. It encourages us to use our imaginations. Here is an example: