metonymy

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me·ton·y·my / məˈtänəmē/ • n. (pl. -mies) the substitution of the name of an attribute or adjunct for that of the thing meant, for example suit for business executive, or the track for horse racing.DERIVATIVES: met·o·nym·ic / ˌmetəˈnimik/ adj.met·o·nym·i·cal / ˌmetəˈnimikəl/ adj.met·o·nym·i·cal·ly / ˌmetəˈnimik(ə)lē/ adv.ORIGIN: mid 16th cent.: via Latin from Greek metōnumia, literally ‘change of name.’

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