Final answer:
A metaphor is an implied comparison where one thing is described as if it is another, without using 'like' or 'as', which are characteristics of a simile.
Step-by-step explanation:
A comparison in which one thing is described in terms of another is called a metaphor. In a metaphor, two unlike things are directly compared by saying they are the same. For example, in the line 'Hope is the thing with feathers' by Emily Dickinson, hope is compared to a bird. Another type of comparison that uses the words 'like' or 'as' is called a simile. An example of a simile is 'My love, you are like a rose.'
An implied comparison in which one thing is described in terms of another is a metaphor. Unlike a simile, which makes a comparison using the words 'like' or 'as', a metaphor makes a direct comparison, effectively stating that one thing is another. An example of a metaphor is 'Hope is the thing with feathers' by Emily Dickinson which compares hope to a bird, whereas a simile is illustrated by 'My darling, you are like a rose,' where the comparison uses 'like' to equate the loved one with a rose. Metaphors are a fundamental device in figurative language, often used to create vivid imagery and add depth to writing.