A simile is a figure of speech that compares two unlike things using the words "like" or "as."
Here's why this is the best explanation:
* Comparison: Similes are all about drawing comparisons between things that are fundamentally different. This helps us understand one thing by relating it to something familiar.
* "Like" or "As": The defining characteristic of a simile is the use of these specific words to introduce the comparison.
* Figure of Speech: Similes are considered a figure of speech because they use language creatively to evoke an image or feeling, rather than simply stating a fact.
Examples of similes:
* "Her eyes were like stars."
* "He was as strong as an ox."
* "The wind howled like a wolf."