A simile is a figure of speech that compares two things using the words "like" or "as" to show similarities between them. It is a way of making a comparison that helps the reader or listener to better understand or visualize something.
The word "simile" comes from the Latin word "similis," which means "like" or "similar." This root word reflects the essence of a simile, which is to show the similarity or likeness between two things.
Here are two examples of a simile:
Her eyes were as bright as the stars in the sky.
The boy ran like a cheetah chasing its prey.
In the first example, the simile compares the brightness of the woman's eyes to the brightness of stars in the sky. In the second example, the simile compares the speed at which the boy ran to the speed at which a cheetah chases its prey. Both similes use the words "like" or "as" to create a comparison and show the similarity between two things.