metaphorical extension

English - English

Definition of metaphorical extension in English English dictionary

A noun meaning the process as the language changes over time in linguistics wherein the meaning of or part of the sense of a word which was used as a portion of a popularized metaphorical phrase is transferred back to and subsequently becomes one of the accepted general meanings of the original word used in the phrase . (Example mouse, in computing from computer mouse, an input device which possessed a metaphorical tail.)

The part of the definition of a word which has undergone a such meaning change

Hyphenation

met·a·pho·ri·cal ex·ten·sion

Turkish pronunciation

metıfôrîkıl îkstenşın

Pronunciation

/ˌmetəˈfôrəkəl əkˈstensʜən/ /ˌmɛtəˈfɔːrɪkəl ɪkˈstɛnʃən/

Etymology

() From at least 1995, metaphorical + extension.