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The simile has to match the tone of its surroundings and has to be like a little joke. Writing a simile that isn't funny on some level is quite hard.
Ned Beauman

Meaning of "simile" in the English dictionary

Dictionary
DICTIONARY
section

ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD SIMILE

From Latin simile something similar, from similis like.
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Etymology is the study of the origin of words and their changes in structure and significance.
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PRONUNCIATION OF SIMILE

simile  [ˈsɪmɪlɪ] play
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GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF SIMILE

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Simile is a noun.
A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.

WHAT DOES SIMILE MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Simile

A simile is a rhetorical figure expressing comparison or likeness that directly compares two objects through some connective word such as like, as, so, than, or a verb such as resembles. Although similes and metaphors are generally seen as interchangeable, similes acknowledge the imperfections and limitations of the comparative relationship to a greater extent than metaphors. Similes also hedge/protect the author against outrageous, incomplete, or unfair comparison. Generally, metaphor is the stronger and more encompassing of the two forms of rhetorical analogies.

WORDS THAT RHYME WITH SIMILE


contumely
ˈkɒntjʊmɪlɪ
dissimile
dɪsˈsɪmɪlɪ
dreamily
ˈdriːmɪlɪ
facsimile
fækˈsɪmɪlɪ
family
ˈfæmɪlɪ
gamily
ˈɡeɪmɪlɪ
gemmily
ˈdʒɛmɪlɪ
gloomily
ˈɡluːmɪlɪ
grimily
ˈɡraɪmɪlɪ
homily
ˈhɒmɪlɪ
millie
ˈmɪlɪ
multifamily
ˌmʌltɪˈfæmɪlɪ
nonfamily
ˌnɒnˈfæmɪlɪ
Semele
ˈsɛmɪlɪ
slimily
ˈslaɪmɪlɪ
stepfamily
ˈstɛpˌfæmɪlɪ
subfamily
ˈsʌbˌfæmɪlɪ
superfamily
ˈsuːpəˌfæmɪlɪ
swimmily
ˈswɪmɪlɪ
telefacsimile
ˌtɛlɪfækˈsɪmɪlɪ

WORDS THAT BEGIN LIKE SIMILE

simi
simial
simian
similar
similar triangles
similarity
similarly
similative
similitude
similize
simillimum
similor
simioid
simious
simitar
Simla
simlin
SIMM
SIMM chip
simmer

WORDS THAT END LIKE SIMILE

Admiralty mile
air mile
camomile
chamomile
country mile
crack a smile
epic simile
force a smile
four-minute mile
half-mile
half-smile
mile
nautical mile
outsmile
passenger mile
quarter mile
sea mile
smile
statute mile
stick out a mile

Synonyms and antonyms of simile in the English dictionary of synonyms

SYNONYMS

Translation of «simile» into 25 languages

TRANSLATOR
online translator

TRANSLATION OF SIMILE

Find out the translation of simile to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.
The translations of simile from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «simile» in English.

Translator English - Chinese

比喻
1,325 millions of speakers

Translator English - Spanish

símil
570 millions of speakers

English

simile
510 millions of speakers

Translator English - Hindi

उपमा
380 millions of speakers
ar

Translator English - Arabic

التشبيه
280 millions of speakers

Translator English - Russian

сравнение
278 millions of speakers

Translator English - Portuguese

simile
270 millions of speakers

Translator English - Bengali

উপমা
260 millions of speakers

Translator English - French

comparaison
220 millions of speakers

Translator English - Malay

Simile
190 millions of speakers

Translator English - German

Gleichnis
180 millions of speakers

Translator English - Japanese

直喩
130 millions of speakers

Translator English - Korean

비유
85 millions of speakers

Translator English - Javanese

Simile
85 millions of speakers
vi

Translator English - Vietnamese

sự so sánh
80 millions of speakers

Translator English - Tamil

உவமானம்
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Marathi

Simile
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Turkish

benzetme
70 millions of speakers

Translator English - Italian

similitudine
65 millions of speakers

Translator English - Polish

simile
50 millions of speakers

Translator English - Ukrainian

порівняння
40 millions of speakers

Translator English - Romanian

simile
30 millions of speakers
el

Translator English - Greek

παρομοίωση
15 millions of speakers
af

Translator English - Afrikaans

vergelyking
14 millions of speakers
sv

Translator English - Swedish

liknelse
10 millions of speakers
no

Translator English - Norwegian

simile
5 millions of speakers

Trends of use of simile

TRENDS

TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «SIMILE»

The term «simile» is very widely used and occupies the 17.048 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.
0
100%
FREQUENCY
Very widely used
92
/100
The map shown above gives the frequency of use of the term «simile» in the different countries.
Principal search tendencies and common uses of simile
List of principal searches undertaken by users to access our English online dictionary and most widely used expressions with the word «simile».

FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «SIMILE» OVER TIME

The graph expresses the annual evolution of the frequency of use of the word «simile» during the past 500 years. Its implementation is based on analysing how often the term «simile» appears in digitalised printed sources in English between the year 1500 and the present day.

Examples of use in the English literature, quotes and news about simile

EXAMPLES

5 QUOTES WITH «SIMILE»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word simile.
1
Ian Anderson
If you're gonna use simile, analogy, metaphor, be descriptive and have some flowery adjectives and a few odd nouns and some engaging bits of dialogue or sentiment, then you're sort of writing a novel, really. But rock lyrics are not really known for their sophistication.
2
Ned Beauman
The simile has to match the tone of its surroundings and has to be like a little joke. Writing a simile that isn't funny on some level is quite hard.
3
Robert Cormier
The beautiful part of writing is that you don't have to get it right the first time, unlike, say, a brain surgeon. You can always do it better, find the exact word, the apt phrase, the leaping simile.
4
Edward M. Lerner
In mainstream literature, a trope is a figure of speech: metaphor, simile, irony, or the like. Words used other than literally. In SF, a trope - at least as I understand the usage - is more: science used other than literally.
5
Matthew Rhys
I think the Cold War works as a great analogy or simile for different kinds of conflict. It's funny, when you look back at it, it's one of the last times that the boundaries were clear. Now, as we see on 'Homeland,' there are no clear boundaries and enemies.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «SIMILE»

Discover the use of simile in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to simile and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.
1
Crazy Like a Fox: A Simile Story
In a story told entirely in similes, Rufus the fox is behaving strangely, but for a very good reason. Includes a definition of simile and suggestions for writing a simile story.
‎2009
2
Omne Agens Agit Sibi Simile: A "repetition" of Scholastic ...
The first part of the book is devoted to this task. it argues that the mediaeval metaphysics of causal similarity is rooted in a conception of the cosmos which goes back to the Presocratics, and according to which being is essentially ...
Philipp W. Rosemann, Ph. Rosemann, 1996
3
Character, Narrator, and Simile in the Iliad
Jonathan L. Ready offers the first comprehensive examination of Homer's similes in the Iliad as arenas of heroic competition.
Jonathan L. Ready, 2011
4
Simile and Identity in Ovid's Metamorphoses
The first monograph on Ovid's epic simile, offering fresh perspectives on central episodes of this important work.
Marie Louise von Glinski, 2012
5
The oral Nature of the Homeric simile. [Mit Tab.]
CHAPTER FOUR THE ORAL COMPOSER: THE EXTENDED SIMILE Studies of oral poetry often stress the hold of the tradition on the poet so strongly that there seems limited opportunity for flexibility, and yet it is clear to anyone who has ...
William Clyde Scott, 1974
6
Narrative and Simile from the Georgics in the Aeneid
Ward W. Briggs. of the dying are like migrating birds. The simile also has internal reference in that it recalls the cranes of Geo. 1.374-375, the crows of Geo. 1.412- 413,28 and the bees of 4.18-24, all descriptions of animals behaving en masse.
Ward W. Briggs, 1980
7
The Artistry of the Homeric Simile
An examination of the aesthetic qualities of the Homeric simile
William C. Scott, 2012
8
Let a simile be your umbrella
This twelfth collection from the Pulitzer Prize-winning political columnist's "On language" column from the "New York Times Magazine" dissects curious coinages, trends, and errors in English usage.
William Safire, 2001
9
Stevens and Simile: A Theory of Language
In contrast to the overwhelming number of entries for metaphor in Shibles' four- hundred-page book, those for simile cover half of one page. Similarly, to choose an example at random, Northrop F rye's Anatomy of Criticism lists, not atypically,  ...
Jacqueline Vaught Brogan, 2014
10
Homer: Critical Assessments
A study of the function of the Homeric simile must begin with a short discussion of certain general principles concerning the status of the simile as a device of oral poetry, its date, and the relationship between simile and context. It is necessary ...
Irene J. F. de Jong

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «SIMILE»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term simile is used in the context of the following news items.
1
The lady with the quick simile, Part 2
The lady with the quick simile, Part 2. 0. Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn. Google+ Pinterest Email. Share this with your friends! From. To. Compose your ... «Huntsville Item, Jul 15»
2
THE LADY WITH THE QUICK SIMILE, PART 1
I've entered the phase of my life when I have begun to notice how much hair I'm losing when I brush it out after a shower. I've still got a lot of color left, thanks to ... «Huntsville Item, Jul 15»
3
Simile When You Say That, Partner
What's on my mind today is one particular subset of metaphor, the simile. Not all first-rate writers are inclined to use them, but — count on it — everyone who's a ... «Chronicle of Higher Education, Jun 15»
4
It's time to spin a Chiefs simile grade card
Choose any sports simile to help you get to the facts — actually it's your opinions, because opinions is what we mostly do around here — about where the ... «Arrowhead Addict, Jun 15»
5
Pilot suffers minor injuries after plane crash, fire
Only the pilot, 55-year-old Richard Simile of Auburn, Ala., was on board when the plane went down. Simile, who only suffered minor injures told first responders ... «Orlando Sentinel, Apr 15»
6
SIMILE program to end this year, loses VPUE sponsorship
The future of the program is still unknown, but the current plan is to make SIMILE a part of the Program in the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine, ... «The Stanford Daily, Apr 15»
7
This train absolutely decimating untouched snow is our simile of the …
You may apply this train obliterating snow as a simile for your life. Here are some examples: I plow through haters like that train plows through snow. I slide into ... «The Verge, Feb 15»
8
Introducing The Internet's New Favorite Simile
Introducing The Internet's New Favorite Simile. Brave new comparisons for a brave new world. posted on Jan. 20, 2015, at 2:08 p.m.. Charlie Warzel. BuzzFeed ... «BuzzFeed News, Jan 15»
9
Fifth Harmony win dubious medical simile of the week
Written by Meghan Trainor, this track contains a dubious medical simile ('If you could take my pulse right now, it would feel just like a sledgehammer') but we'll ... «Irish Times, Dec 14»
10
SIMILE, ITALIC programs make changes for the new academic year
After their inaugural year, the yearlong residential programs “Science in the Making: Integrated Learning Environment” (SIMILE) and “Immersion in the Arts: ... «The Stanford Daily, Sep 14»

REFERENCE
« EDUCALINGO. Simile [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/simile>. Apr 2024 ».
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