You searched for: “hyperbole”
hyperbola, hyperbole
hyperbola (high PUR buh luh) (noun)
A mathematical term indicating a part of a curve: Every draftsman must learn the formula for the hyperbola.
hyperbole (high PUR buh lee) (noun)
1. An extravagant overstatement or exaggerated language that distorts facts by making them much bigger than they are if looked at objectively: Too much use of hyperbole can cast doubt on anything a person says.
2. A figure of speech in which exaggeration is used for emphasis or effect: Examples of hyperbole are illustrated by the following statements:

I'm so tired, I could sleep for a year.

This book weighs a ton.

I could eat a million of these cookies.

It is taking an eternity to finish the research!

It might be a hyperbole to describe the hyperbola as reaching to the moon instead of just stating that is was large and graceful.

This entry is located in the following units: Confusing Words Clarified: Group H; Homonyms, Homophones, Homographs, Synonyms, Polysemes, etc. + (page 5) hyper-, hyp- (page 3)
hyperbole (high PUR buh lee) (s) (noun), hyperboles (pl)
1. An exaggeration for effect; an overstatement: Jane's mother used a hyperbole when she said over the phone, "Give little Timmy a thousand hugs and kisses from me!"
2. Something that is not to be taken literally; a figure of speech, or a distortion of what is real that is used for emphasis or special effects: Here are a few examples of hyperboles: Thanks a million; Stubborn as a mule; Strong as an ox; Big as a whale.

An over statement of the situation.
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An exaggeration of what is going on.
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A compliment that is false.
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Something stated that is not intended to be taken literallly.
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This entry is located in the following units: ballo-, ball-, balo-, bolo-, bol-, -bola, -bole, -bolic, -bolism, -bolite, -boly (page 2) hyper-, hyp- (page 3)