The Change of one Noun for another Related Noun Me-ton´-y-my. Sometimes pronounced Met´-o-nym-y. Greek, Μετωνυμία, from μετά (meta), indicating change, and ὄνομα (onoma), a name; or, in grammar, a noun. Metonymy is a figure by which one name or noun is used instead of another, to which it stands in a certain relation. The change is in the noun, and only in a verb as connected with the action proceeding from it. The names of persons are put by Metonymy for something