What is a good definition for "Figurative Language"?

Most people think of language as a clear and literal vehicle for precisely communicating ideas. Even when we use language literally, however, misunderstandings arise and meanings shift. People can be intentionally or unintentionally ambiguous, although "when a potentially ambiguous sentence is uttered by the speaker, usually only one meaning of it occurs to him and he intends the sentence in this one meaning" (Raskin 63). Words can have denotations, apparent or surface meanings, and connotations, implied or hidden meanings.

Moreover, we often use words figuratively. Figurative language is used in poetry and fiction, as well as in everyday speech. Most of us don't think much about the language we use, and even if we do, we don't realize that much of it consists of figures of speech. We use figures of speech all the time, for effect and for emphasis. Here, for example, guitarist Frank Zappa describes his love of his instrument:

If ever there's an obscene noise to be made on an instrument, it's going to come out of a guitar. On a saxophone you can play sleaze. On a bass you can play balls. But on a guitar you can be truly obscene. . . Let's be realistic about this, the guitar can be the single most blasphemous device on the face of the earth. That's why I like it... The disgusting stink of a too-loud electric guitar : now that's my idea of a good time. (Denyer 28)

This example of ordinary conversation contains many figures of speech, including auditory imagery, metaphor, synaesthesia, metonymy, hyperbole, and olfactory imagery.

What is true of speech is also true of visual arts. An old adage tells us that "every picture tells a story," but the average person seldom, if ever, thinks about how this storytelling is done. We recognize that actors portray characters, and perform on "sets," but there is much more to the dramatic and visual arts. Like spoken language, the visual language used in television, film, painting, sculpture, and even photography contains "figures of speech" which work in much the same way that spoken ones do.

Understanding the way figurative language works is essential for a true appreciation of art and literature, but figurative language is used not only in art and literature; it permeates our culture and our lives. Politicians, advertisers, sportscasters, everybody uses figurative language, and many use it badly. Understanding how it works helps us interpret what other people are saying, what they are really saying, and what they are trying to say. It also helps us write and speak more clearly ourselves.

Pax - C

I think it's how you come at it. If you believe that a certain religion is a "conspiracy" then I can't help you. The Bible is not a science book it's a spiritual tool designed to instruct people spiritually. Spiritual things are of a different dimension than the 3 dimensions that scientific discovery's are currently concerned about. I'm no scientist but there is no "proven" in science, there is only most probable, there will always be a degree of uncertainty due to the human factor. What you see are people making excuses and I used to see it that way, but once you read the Bible with a not so "guilty until innocent" attitude you see that interpretations have to be changed from time to time just like in science. Back in the day science used to think the world was flat and the opposite idea wasn't made popular(galileo didn't come up with it) until galileo got jailed for insulting the pope. Even to this day there are those who think the Earth is flat (i suppose you could liken those people to fundamentalists). Either way our perspective as humans is always being more and more enlightened, having an open mind is more than just accepting whatever science discovers it's also being able to accept the possibility that religion just might be right about some things. Many great minds that we revere still to this day were deeply religious, the "father of the big bang theory" was a practicing priest. As for the ark business some say it wasn't worldwide flood and others would say it's simply a miracle, (as for sightings of it there are many stories) and also interesting to note there is an account of a worldwide flood by the Sumerians. The flood is a huge debate just like the creation story, I have seen many plausible explanations given on both sides, have a look for your self if you're really serious. You might be surprised to find that religious people can be/are actually just as rational as everybody else (and sometimes more so)*gasp*.

Using figures of speech, using words in ways other than their literal meanings.

i think figurative language dosent exactly mean what you are saying... for example you are as dumb as a rock

thats not literally true.. its kind of when your over exagerating or being kind of sarcastic