Mĕt'a-phor, n.

n. [Gr. μεταφορά, from μεταφέρειν, to carry over, to transfer, from μετά, beyond, over, and φέρειν, to bring, carry; Lat. metaphora, Fr. métaphore, Sp. & It. metafora.] (Rhet.) A short similitude; a similitude reduced to a single word; or a word expressing similitude without the signs of comparison. Thus, “that man is a fox,” is a metaphor; but “that man is like a fox,” is a simile, similitude, or comparison.