What is a part-for-whole metonymy?

What is a part-for-whole metonymy?

Definition
	A conventional metonymy in which reference to a characteristic or important part is used to stand for the corresponding whole.

Examples
	Here are some examples in English:
	We don't hire longhairs. The Giants need a stronger arm in right field. I've got a new four-on-the-floor V-8.

Kinds
	Here are some kinds of part-for-whole metonymies:
	What is a face-for-person metonymy?

Generic
	A part-for-whole metonymy is a kind of
	Conventional metonymies in English

Source
	Lakoff and Johnson 1980:38

Context for this page:

Concept module: part-for-whole metonymy
In modular book: Metonymies in English, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H. Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Lexicon

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 4.0, published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 1999. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 2 July 1998

© 1999 SIL International