A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things that have similar properties or characteristics. It is a literary device that uses the words "like" or "as" to make a comparison. Similes are often used in literature, advertising, and everyday speech to create vivid imagery or to draw surprising connections between two unrelated things. They are closely related to metaphors and analogies.

Here are some examples of similes:

• "I slept like a log"
• "She sings like an angel"
• "Hes as strong as an ox"
• "The water is as clear as crystal"
• "The wind howled like a wolf"

Similes are effective because they "show" rather than "tell" and use descriptive language to convey an idea instead of stating it as fact. They can be used to provide a mental image to the reader or listener. However, they should be avoided in formal contexts like academic writing.