synecdoche

Synecdoche is a figure of speech where a part of something is used to represent the whole, or vice versa. For example, saying "All hands on deck" uses "hands" to represent sailors. It emphasizes a specific aspect to stand for the entire entity, often highlighting importance or characteristic. This rhetorical device adds brevity and impact to language, allowing speakers to evoke imagery or meaning efficiently. In essence, synecdoche connects a part to the whole in a way that is understood intuitively, enriching communication and expressive depth.