metaphor & simile

 

simile

noun sim·i·le \ˈsi-mə-(ˌ)lē\

Simple Definition of simile

·         grammar : a phrase that uses the words like or as to describe someone or something by comparing it with someone or something else that is similar

Full Definition of simile

1.      :  a figure of speech comparing two unlike things that is often introduced by like or as (as in cheeks like roses) — compare metaphor

See simile defined for English-language learners
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Examples of simile in a sentence

1.      But Dickens finds the unexpected detail, the vivid simile. Think of Joe Gargery in Great Expectations, “with eyes of such a very undecided blue that they seemed to have somehow got mixed with their own whites.” Or, in David Copperfield, Dora's cousin “in the Life-Guards, with such long legs that he looked like the afternoon shadow of somebody else.” —James Wood, New Republic, 14 Dec. 1998

2.      After the internship year, doctors assume greater responsibility for directing patient care. Dr. Shockcor at West Virginia offered a homely simile: “It's like working in a factory, putting doors on cars. I'm now responsible that the doors get put on right, whereas as an intern I had to make sure I had a door in my hands and didn't miss a car going by.” —Michael Harwood, New York Times Magazine, 3 June1984

3.      “She's as fierce as a tiger” is a simile, but “She's a tiger when she's angry” is a metaphor.

4.      What do you think of the author's use of simile?

 

SIMILE Defined for Kids

Simile

noun sim·i·le \ˈsi-mə-ˌlē\

Definition of simile

1.      :  a figure of speech comparing two unlike things using like or as <“Their cheeks are like roses” is a simile. “Their cheeks are roses” is a metaphor.>

Learn More about simile

1.      Spanish Central: Translation of "simile" Nglish: Translation of "simile" for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of "simile" for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about "simile"

Metaphor

noun met·a·phor \ˈme-tə-ˌfȯr also -fər\

Popularity: Top 1% of lookups

Simple Definition of metaphor

·         : a word or phrase for one thing that is used to refer to another thing in order to show or suggest that they are similar

·         : an object, activity, or idea that is used as a symbol of something else

Full Definition of metaphor

1.      1 :  a figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them (as in drowning in money); broadly :  figurative language — compare simile

2.      2 :  an object, activity, or idea treated as a metaphor :  symbol 2

met·a·phor·ic play \ˌme-tə-ˈfȯr-ik, -ˈfär-\ or met·a·phor·i·cal play \-i-kəl\ adjective

met·a·phor·i·cal·ly play \-i-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

See metaphor defined for English-language learners
See metaphor defined for kids

Examples of metaphor in a sentence

1.      You see, menudo is our chicken soup for the body and soul, our metaphor for bread-and-butter issues. —Joe Rodriguez, San Jose Mercury News, 20 May 2003

2.      The hapless Humpty Dumpty often crops up as a metaphor for the second law of thermodynamics. —Charles Day, Physics Today, December 2002

3.      Ben Strong, senior, football player, leader of the prayer group, the boy whose very name is a metaphor, has been besieged by the media for interviews. —Jayne Anne Phillips, Harper's, November 1998

4.      The number of songs containing ambiguous metaphors and intriguing but obscure symbolism could be extended indefinitely. Still, … there are hollers, work songs, field songs, and blues whose meaning is really not subject to a great deal of interpretation. —Lawrence W. Levine, “The Concept of the New Negro,” 1971, in The Unpredictable Past, 1993

5.      “He was drowning in paperwork” is a metaphor in which having to deal with a lot of paperwork is being compared to drowning in an ocean of water.

6.      Her poems include many imaginative metaphors.

7.      a poet admired for her use of metaphor

Origin of metaphor

Middle English methaphor, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French metaphore, from Latin metaphora, from Greek, from metapherein to transfer, from meta- + pherein to bear — more at bear

METAPHOR Defined for Kids

metaphor

noun met·a·phor \ˈme-tə-ˌfȯr\

Definition of metaphor

1.      :  a figure of speech comparing two unlike things without using like or as <“Their cheeks were roses” is a metaphor while “their cheeks were like roses” is a simile.>

Learn More about metaphor

1.      Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for "metaphor" Spanish Central: Translation of "metaphor" Nglish: Translation of "metaphor" for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of "metaphor" for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about "metaphor"

Similes and Metaphors A simile is where two things are directly compared because they share a common feature. The word AS or LIKE is used to compare the two words. Eg. As cold AS a dog's nose A metaphor also compares two things, but it does so more directly WITHOUT using as or like. Eg. The shop was a little gold-mine. Task One Copy these sentences into your book. At the end of the sentence, write in brackets whether the sentence is an example of a metaphor or simile. Eg. The clouds were fluffy like cotton wool. (SIMILE) As slippery as an eel. Arnie was a man-mountain. He was a lion in battle. She is as pretty as a picture. The striker was a goal machine. The torch lit up the room as if the sun had risen early. The moon was a misty shadow. My friend has a face like a bag of spanners. Task Two Now you are going to make up similes of your own by copying and finishing these sentences. For example: As good as gold As heavy as As cold as As hard as She had skin like a As cool as As quick as He was slow like a  Slippery like a   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metaphor http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metaphor http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/english/PC_met.htm