literal

Alternative forms

• litteral (obsolete)

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈlɪt(ə)ɹəl/
• Homophone: littoral

Adjective

literal (comparative more literal, superlative most literal)

1. Exactly as stated; read or understood without additional interpretation; according to the letter or verbal expression; real; not figurative or metaphorical, and etymonic rather than idiomatic.
   • The literal translation is "hands full of bananas" but it means "empty-handed".
2. Following the letter or exact words; not free; not taking liberties
   • A literal reading of the law would prohibit it, but that is clearly not the intent.
3. (theology) (broadly) That which generally assumes that the plainest reading of a given scripture is correct but which allows for metaphor where context indicates it; (specifically) following the historical-grammatical method of biblical interpretation
4. (uncommon) Consisting of, or expressed by, letters (of an alphabet)
   • a literal equation
5. (of a person) Unimaginative; matter-of-fact
6. (proscribed) Used non-literally as an intensifier; see literally for usage notes.
   • Telemarketers are the literal worst.

Noun

literal (plural literals)

1. (epigraphy, typography) A misprint (or occasionally a scribal error) that affects a letter.
   • Synonym: typo
2. (programming) A value, as opposed to an identifier, written into the source code of a computer program.
   • Synonym: literal constant
3. (logic) A propositional variable or the negation of a propositional variable. ^Wp

Anagrams

• tallier

Pronunciation

• (Balearic, Central) IPA: /li.təˈɾal/
• (Valencian) IPA: /li.teˈɾal/

Adjective

literal (masculine and feminine plural literals)

1. literal

Adjective

literal m or f (plural literais)

1. literal

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˌlɪtəˈʁaːl/

Adjective

literal (strong nominative masculine singular literaler, comparative literaler, superlative am literalsten)

1. (of cultures, etc., not of individuals) literate
   • Es gibt orale und literale Kulturen.

     • There are oral and literate cultures.

Pronunciation

• IPA: [litəˈral]
• Hyphenation: li‧tê‧ral

Adjective

literal

1. literal.
   • Synonym: harfiah

Adjective

literal m (oblique and nominative feminine singular literale)

1. literal (exactly as stated)
2. literal (relating to or composed of letters)

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: li‧te‧ral

Adjective

literal m or f (plural literais)

1. literal (understood exactly as written, without additional interpretation)

Noun

literal m (plural literais)

1. (programming) literal (value written in the source code)

Adjective

literal m or n (feminine singular literală, masculine plural literali, feminine and neuter plural literale)

1. literal

Pronunciation

• IPA: /liteˈɾal/ [li.t̪eˈɾal]
• Syllabification: li‧te‧ral

Adjective

literal (plural literales)

1. literal

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: li‧te‧ral
• IPA: /liteˈɾal/, [lɪ.tɛˈɾal]

Adjective

literál

1. literal (exactly as stated)