Definition of: catachresis

(kat′ə·krē′sis) noun
1. The misuse of a word; application of a meaning to a word not its own, as asset used in the sense of advantage; also, a mixed or strained metaphor.
2. The use of a wrong form of a word, through a misunderstanding of its etymology. [<L <Gk. katachrēsis <kata- against + chraesthai use]
—cat·a·chres·tic (kat′ə·kres′tik) or ·ti·cal adjective
—cat′a·chres′ti·cal·ly adverb