Definition of "literal" in Englisch

adjective

1. Exactly as stated; read or understood without interpretation; according to the letter; not figurative or metaphorical; following the letter or exact words; not taking liberties; etymonic rather than idiomatic.

   • The literal translation of Spanish irse al otro barrio is "to go to the other neighbourhood" but it means "to die".
   • A literal reading of the law would prohibit it, but that is clearly not the intent.

2. Actual, real, physical.

3. That which generally assumes that the plainest reading of a given text is correct but which allows for metaphor where context indicates it.

4. Following the historical-grammatical method of biblical interpretation.

5. (uncommon) Consisting of, or expressed by, letters (of an alphabet); using literation.

   • a literal equation

6. (of a person) Unimaginative; matter-of-fact; literal-minded.

7. (proscribed) Used nonliterally as an intensifier. See literally for usage notes.

   • Telemarketers are the literal worst.

8. Misspelling of littoral.

noun

1. (epigraphy, typography) A misprint (or occasionally a scribal error) that affects a letter.

2. (programming) A value, as opposed to an identifier, written into the source code of a computer program.

3. (logic) A propositional variable, or the negation of a propositional variable. ᵂᵖ

4. Misspelling of littoral.