What kind of figure speech uses one thing to describe something else different?

The figure of speech that uses one thing to describe something else different is called a metaphor.

Here's how it works:

* Metaphor: A direct comparison between two unlike things, without using words like "like" or "as".

Example: "Her eyes were stars in the night sky."

* Simile: A comparison between two unlike things using "like" or "as".

Example: "Her eyes were like stars in the night sky."

So, while both metaphors and similes make comparisons, metaphors are more direct and suggestive. They imply a deeper connection between the two things being compared.