Main Entry: hy·per·bo·le

Pronunciation: \hī-ˈpər-bə-(ˌ)lē\

Function: noun

Etymology: Latin, from Greek hyperbolē excess, hyperbole, hyperbola, from hyperballein to exceed, from hyper- + ballein to throw — more at devil

Date: 15th century

: extravagant exaggeration (as “mile-high ice-cream cones”)

— hy·per·bo·list \-list\ noun