Definitions

1. adjective

expressing or involving a strictly accurate or obvious meaning

“The literal translation of the phrase was ‘I love you’, but in the cultural context, it meant ‘I will die for you’.”

2. noun

a word or phrase that is translated from a foreign language without any attempt to make it more natural or idiomatic

“The literal is often criticized for losing the nuances of the original text.”

3. adverb

in a literal sense or manner; exactly

“She took the instructions literally and followed them to the letter.”