metonymic

Definitions

Of, or relating to, a word or phrase that names an object from a single characteristic of it or of a closely related object.

Equivalents

Examples

“The British government is often referred to by the metonymic expression "Downing Street".”

“With a metonymic expression encountered in almost every sixth utterance, an uncontroversial need⟳ for dealing with this problem is demonstrated.”

“We investigate⟳ this replacement for a proper aggregation hierarchy and argue⟳ that it comes from a misunderstanding of both the linguistic use⟳ of terminology at the point⟳ of clinical care and the logic arguments developed for its justification. In particular in SCT [SNOMED CT] the holonymic (or hypernym) role of an aggregating concept is used as a source of inheritance which is clearly incorrect. Our explanation for this SCT modelling strategy is that the role of such a holonym has undergone the process⟳ of metonymic substitution, which is substitution of the authentic word for one that serves as a metaphor for the original. The assignment of attributes and relations of the meronymic (sub-part) members of the holonym (super-part) to be one of the holonym itself can at best be called metonymic inheritance. Importantly, if it is allowed to operate⟳ at all, it must operate⟳ from the bottom up, that is the attributes move⟳ from the part to the whole, that is, in reverse to what we normally think⟳ of as the direction of inheritance, from the top down.”

“In almost all cases, metonymic phrases focus⟳ on two questions: when and where? […] All of which is why, 13 years later, the phrase “9/11” is the only newly created phrase to remain⟳ in use⟳ since the attack. (Adios “Ground Zero” and “weapons of mass destruction.”) Linguistically, it’s a metonymic beast that shows no sign⟳ of discontinuation.”

CEFR level