simile
UK[ˈsɪmɪli]US[ˈsɪməli]
n
A figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid (e.g., as brave as a lion).
Etymology
The word 'simile' entered English in the late 14th century directly from the Latin word 'simile', the neuter form of 'similis', meaning "like, resembling, of the same kind." This Latin term itself derives from the Proto-Indo-European root sem- (one, together), which also gives us words like 'same', 'similar', and 'assemble'. The logic of its evolution is direct: from the core concept of "likeness" in Proto-Indo-European, to the Latin adjective for "similar," and finally to its specialized adoption in English rhetoric as the technical term for an explicit comparison using "like" or "as." Thus, the abstract modern meaning is a precise crystallization of the ancient, fundamental idea of resemblance.
Analysis
The word is a simplex loanword from Latin. It cannot be meaningfully segmented into productive English morphemes without distorting its form or obscuring its origin.
Examples
The poet used the simile "cheeks like roses" to describe her complexion.
"As busy as a bee" is a very common simile in the English language.
His explanation was clear, aided by a helpful simile comparing the internet to a vast library.