Final answer:
The phrase in question uses onomatopoeia, a form of figurative language that imitates the sound of the action described, enhancing the sensory experience of the text.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase 'The celery snapped as my brother ate it' uses figurative language, specifically a type of metaphor known as onomatopoeia. Onomatopoeia is a figure of speech where words imitate the natural sound associated with objects or actions. In this example, 'snapped' is not describing a literal snapping as in breaking forcefully, but rather it is imitating the sound that celery makes when it is bitten into, thereby allowing the reader to 'hear' the action through the description. This enhances the sensory experience of the text, making it more vivid and engaging for the reader.