Met″a‐phor (mĕt″ȧ‐fẽr), n. [F. métaphore, L. metaphora, fr. Gr. μεταφορά, fr. μεταφέρειν to carry over, transfer; μετά beyond, over + φέρειν to bring, bear.] (Rhet.) The transference of the relation between one set of objects to another set for the purpose of brief explanation; a compressed simile; e. g., the ship plows the sea. Abbott & Seeley. “All the world's a stage.” Shak.
☞ The statement, “that man is a fox,” is a metaphor; but “that man is like a fox,” is a simile, similitude, or comparison.