Metaphors are figures of speech where one things is said to be something else to suggests a comparison.
Read about metaphor in science
Read about examples of science metaphors
Many examples of science metaphors are listed in 'Creative comparisons: Making science familiar through language. An illustrative catalogue of figurative comparisons and analogies for science concepts'. Free Download.
A 'dead metaphor' is a term that has become so frequently used that is has become understood to literally – rather than figuratively – refer. This is one way language changes over time.
For example, in astronomy references to the 'life cycles', 'births' and 'deaths' of inanimate stars are now used as if technical terms and not just figures of speech.
Read 'The passing of stars: Birth, death, and afterlife in the universe'
