literal
adjective
1 taking words in their usual or most basic sense without metaphor or allegory
• free from exaggeration or distortion
• informal absolute (used to emphasize that a strong expression is deliberately chosen to convey one’s feelings)
2 (of a translation) representing the exact words of the original text.
• (of a visual representation) exactly copied; realistic as opposed to abstract or impressionistic.
3 (also literal-minded) (of a person or performance) lacking imagination; prosaic.
4 of, in, or expressed by a letter or the letters of the alphabet
1 strict, factual, plain, simple, exact, straightforward; unembellished, undistorted; objective, correct, true, accurate, genuine, authentic. antonym figurative.
2 word-for-word, verbatim, letter-for-letter; exact, precise, faithful, close, strict, accurate. antonym loose
[via erratika]