A Study of Metaphor in Science

For a long time, metaphor has been universally viewed as a rhetorical device and as an ornament to enhance linguistic effectiveness. The language in science is always featured as professional, strict, accurate and plain. Therefore, some people contend that it should not keep any contact with metaphor. However, with the study of cognition developing, piles of researches and facts and data show us that metaphors are omnipresent in human's life and science. In this paper, the author tries to give a thorough study of metaphor in science by analyzing the motivations of metaphor rising in science( the question of why), the possible accesses of metaphor formation in science( the question of how), and the great functions of metaphor in science( the question of what) with the aim to strengthen the understanding of metaphor in science.