A descriptive term for a figure of speech that uses a part for the whole or the whole for a part; or the general for the special or the special for the general: Synecdochically written examples of the "part for the whole": several "head" (of cattle), lunch at five dollars a "head"; "whole for the part"

Germany won 10 gold medals at the games; general for the special: a nasty "beast" (man); special for the general: Jim talks as if he is an "Einstein" (a genius).