Final answer:
Figurative language involves using creative expressions like metaphors and similes to suggest deeper meanings and evoke emotions, rather than stating things directly.
Step-by-step explanation:
The best description of figurative language is that it uses words or expressions that are not meant to be taken literally. Instead of stating things directly, figurative language employs artistic tools like metaphors, similes, and descriptive imagery to suggest underlying meanings, evoke emotions, and provide depth to writing. For instance, a metaphor might compare love to a rose with the phrase 'My love, you are a rose,' suggesting beauty and fragility, while a simile could say 'My darling, you are like a rose,' hinting at similar qualities through comparison.
Figurative language is impactful in poetry and prose as it makes ideas more vivid and can engage the reader's imagination and emotions more deeply than literal language. It allows authors to express complex ideas and emotions in a nuanced way that engages readers on multiple levels.