A figure of speech, such as metaphor or metonymy, in which words are not used in their literal (or actual) sense but in a figurative (or imaginative) sense
Trope has two meanings (1) a short dialogue inserted into the church mass during the early Middle Ages as a sort of mini-drama, (2) a rhetorical device involving shifts in the meaning of words--see tropes for examples
{i} figure of speech, any rhetorical device in which words are used not in accordance with their literal meaning; phrase interpolated into a text for purposes of emphasis (Literature)
Something recurring across a genre or type of literature, such as the mad scientist of horror or once upon a time introduction to fairytales. Similar to a Cliché, but is not necessarily pejorative
n 1 a The figurative use of a word or an expression, as metaphor or hyperbole b An instance of this use; a figure of speech 2 Music A word or phrase interpolated as an embellishment in the sung parts of certain medieval liturgies
words, phrases, images etc that are used for an unusual or interesting effect (tropus, from tropos , from trepein )