simile
UK: ˈsɪmɪli | US: ˈsɪməli
n. a figure of speech comparing two unlike things using "like" or "as"
n. (archaic) a likeness or resemblance
The word "simile" originates from Latin similis ("like"), reflecting its core function of drawing comparisons. In Latin, simile (neut. of similis) referred to a likeness or parallel, which evolved into the rhetorical term for explicit comparisons in English. The suffix -e preserves the Latin nominal form, distinguishing it from related words like "similar." The term entered Middle English via Old French, retaining its focus on figurative resemblance.
"Her smile was bright as the sun" is a classic simile.
The poet used a simile to compare the storm to an angry beast.
Unlike metaphors, similes use "like" or "as" for clarity.
Shakespeare’s similes often drew from nature.
The phrase "cold as ice" is a common simile in English.