Final answer:
A figure of speech that compares one thing to another is known as a simile or metaphor. Similes use 'like' or 'as' to make comparisons, while metaphors make direct comparisons without those words.
Step-by-step explanation:
A figure of speech in which a word or phrase designates one thing and is compared or applied to another is called a simile or a metaphor. These are both figurative language devices used to draw comparisons.
Similes
Similes compare two different things by using the words like or as. An example of a simile is in Robert Burns' poem 'A Red, Red Rose,' which begins with 'O my L is like a red, red rose.'
Metaphors
Metaphors, on the other hand, imply a direct comparison without using 'like' or 'as.' For instance, in Emily Dickinson's 'Hope' where she writes 'Hope is the thing with feathers.' Both similes and metaphors are essential in crafting vivid imagery and conveying complex ideas in a more relatable way.