Which describes synecdoche?

• A. Use of part of something to signify the whole.
• B. Use of one term closely associated with another to mean the other.
• C. Attacking a person's character.
• D. An exaggerated story about a hero.

Answer: (A)

Synecdoche describes a figure of speech in which a part of something is used to signify the whole. This lets us refer to an entire person, group, or thing by mentioning just a component. For example, saying “hands on deck” uses hands (a part) to represent the sailors (the whole crew). That part-to-whole relationship is exactly what defines synecdoche. The other options point to different devices: using something closely linked to another to mean the other is metonymy; attacking a person’s character is a different rhetorical tactic; and an exaggerated story about a hero is hyperbole or a tall tale.