Fig'ū-ra-tive, a.
a. [Fr. figuratif; Pr. figuratiu, Sp., Pg., & It. figurativo.]
Sense 1. Representing by a figure, or by resemblance; typical; representative.
This, they will say, was figurative, and served, by God's appointment, but for a time, to shadow out the true glory of a more divine sanctity. Hecker.
Sense 2. Used in a sense that is tropical, as a metaphor; not literal;—applied to words and expressions.
Sense 3. Abounding in figures of speech; flowery; florid; as, a highly figurative description.